Obituary of Joan A. Bridge

Joan A. (Avinelli) Bridge, a woman devoted to her family, passed away at the Lahey Hospital & Medical Center in Burlington on Friday morning, August 4, 2017. The beloved wife of the late Ralph Bridge, she was 84 years old. Joan was born in Boston. She was one of 4 daughters born to Italian immigrants, the late Corrado and Virginia Avinelli. She was raised in the North End of Boston until the age of 11 when her family moved to Medford. She married her husband Ralph in 1955 and they settled in Woburn where they would raise their three children. She was widowed at the age of 43, but with her strength and unconditional love, Joan was always there for her children. She worked hard to provide for and raise her family. Joan held part-time jobs throughout the years working at Café Escadrille in Burlington, Boston Baby in Woburn, and also acquired her real estate license, but her primary job was being a mother. Joan loved to shop and buy things for others, getting a bargain was such thrill for her. She was always up to date on the current fashion trends and dressed the part. In addition, Joan loved music and could always be heard whistling. In her younger years, Joan enjoyed going out dancing with her girlfriends. She also had a great love of animals and always had cats and dogs in her life. Joan was a proud “Nana” to her five grandchildren and two great grandchildren. She enjoyed babysitting them when their parents were working or enjoying a night out. They brought great joy to her life as she brought great joy to theirs. Joan had an inseparable bond with her mother, Virginia, and her three sisters, Elsie, Dotty and Vilma. They enjoyed family card games, trips to Foxwoods and Atlantic city, and being the life of the party at all the family cookouts. Joan will be remembered for her incredible strength and willingness to lend a helping hand when anyone needed her. Joan was the beloved wife of the Late Ralph Bridge. She was the loving mother of Robert Bridge & his wife Nancy of Billerica, Donna Bridge of Woburn and Valerie Sullivan & her husband Eric of Billerica. Joan was the proud grandmother of Tracy Charbatian & her husband Vigen, William Bridge, Robert Bridge, Jr. & his wife Maryellen, Christopher Sullivan & Lauren Sullivan. Great Grandmother of Mia & Olivia Charbatian. Beloved Sister of Dorothy Tibbets of Medford, Vilma Winn of Burlington and the late Elsie Frasca of Burlington. Funeral Services will be held at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (Exit 34 off Rt. 128/95 Woburn side) on Wednesday, Aug. 9 at 11 a.m. Interment in Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford. Visiting hours Tuesday 5-8 p.m.