Obituary of Joan M. Noyes

Joan M. Noyes, a woman with an incredible strength and devotion to her family passed away peacefully at her home with her family at her bedside on Tuesday night, February 14, 2017. She was 74 years old. Joan was born in Boston, the daughter of the late Kenneth and Mildred Thomson. She grew up in Everett and was a graduate of Everett High School. She went to work as a secretary at an insurance company in Boston. There are many funny and fascinating stories how you met your soulmate. For Joan, it began with a weekend in New York with girlfriends. The girlfriends got on a Greyhound bus bound for New York City and during the ride Joan started chatting with a young man named Al Noyes. By the time had arrived at New York, they had made strong connection. They dated and were later married in April of 1964. It only took 11 months to start a family and she would go onto to have five children. Joan embraced being a mother and later grandmother. She managed to balance all the needs of her family. She made sure everyone got to their activities and sports. That breakfasts, lunches, and dinners seem to magically appear. She coordinated family vacations, holidays, and countless family celebrations. When her grandchildren entered her world, everything else stopped. She helped all her children when they needed a sitter. For some, it was five days a week for others a couple times, it did not matter to Joan. She thrived on being deeply involved in her grandchildren’s upbringing and lives. The grandkids often called her home “Camp Nana”. She kept everyone’s schedule and would coordinate her weekends so that she could attend as many hockey, football, lacrosse, and baseball games as possible. There were also figure skating and dance competitions, and school events. It made all her family feel special when Joan was in the stands or auditorium supporting them. She would show up to see her younger grandchildren off to their first day of school. Every one of her children and grandchildren were special to her. There were no favorites. Joan had a number of favorite destinations over the years. When her children were young, she and Al had a summer cottage on Province Lake in East Wakefield, NH. It was where the kids could run freely, swim, fish, and enjoy the summers together. Then there was her winter home in West Palm Beach, Florida. It was great to escape the New England winters and the doors were always open for family members to come and visit. She and Al loved returning to the place that brought them together, New York City. They also enjoyed vacations to Lake George and numerous cruises to Bermuda. Joan had many interest and activities. She worked part time as a waitress at the Sun Luck Restaurant in Burlington. She enjoyed ceramics, reading, and cooking. She loved to knit. At some point, everyone in the family has received an afghan specially made for them. She loved hosting family and friends at her home for holidays, birthdays, Sunday dinners, and any other event or celebration. It was a guarantee that no one ever left Joan’s home hungry. Joan’s life revolved around her family and when she took ill, her family’s life revolved around her. They made sure she was not alone, well cared for, and helped to fulfill her last wish which was to spend her last days at the home she has loved for the past 52 years. Joan was the beloved wife of the late Elwood J. “Al” Noyes. She was the loving mother of Alan Noyes & his wife Pamela of Tewksbury, Kenneth Noyes & his wife Kristen of North Billerica, Daniel Noyes & his fiancé Camile of Middleton, Kelly Delaney & her husband Sean of Manchester By the Sea, and James Noyes of Reading. She was the proud Nana to Corey Clark, Megan Delaney, Patrick Delaney, Allison, Christina, Aaron, Kevin, Ryan & Cameron Noyes and great grandmother of Lana Clark. Joan was the caring sister of Lynda Hague of Chelmsford, Carl Lavoie of Salem, Robert Lavoie of Swampscott and the late Ronald Lavoie & Connie Harding. Funeral from the Edward V Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (Exit 34 off Rt., 128/95 Woburn side) on Friday, Feb. 17 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Margaret’s Church, 111 Winn St., Burlington at 10 a.m. Visiting hours Thursday 4-8 p.m. Interment in Pine Haven Cemetery, BURLINGTON. Memorials in Joan’s name may be made to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701.