Joan Julian

Joan T. Julian (Kelley), 76, of Millbury, formerly of Shrewsbury died on March 15, 2012. She passed peacefully at her daughter's home, surrounded by her loving family. Born on July 13, 1935 in Worcester, she was the daughter of the late John and Catherine Kelley (Monahan). Her husband of 46 years, Raymond Julian died in September of 2000. She leaves her five children, Brian Julian and his wife Beverly of Worcester, John Julian and his wife Carol of Dudley, Linda Hester and her husband Mark of Douglas, Lisa McNamara and her companion Kenneth DiGiovanni of Millbury, Kelly Jones and her husband Evan of Millbury, and John McNamara her former son-in-law of Shrewsbury. She leaves 9 cherished grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, her siblings, Thomas J. Kelley of North Carolina, John J. Kelley and a sister Kathleen M. Rivard both of Worcester. Learning was very important to Joan; she graduated from Ascension High School and the Hahnemann School of Nursing. She received a BS degree in Health from Anna Maria College and a Masters degree in Nursing. Joan would eventually earn a Masters degree in Education. She was a practicing registered nurse in three Worcester hospitals for nineteen years, the Supervisor of Nursing at Thorton Nursing Home in Northborough, and Substitute Teacher of Nursing at Assabet Regional High School for several years. Joan would eventually take a position as a science teacher at Millbury Junior-Senior High School where she would teach for twenty years until retiring in 1992. Teaching was her passion and was one of the most rewarding experiences of her career. She possessed a gift that allowed her to teach in a unique way, she had the ability to combine classroom curriculum with activities and experiments that encouraged and promoted a fun learning experience for all her students, she was the teacher everyone wanted to have. Joan was a member of St. Mary's Parish in Shrewsbury and a member of the Massachusetts Teachers Association and MEA for many years. She was a member of the Women's Guild at St. Mary's and the Shrewsbury Welcome Wagon for several years. Relatives and friends are invited to attend calling hours on Monday March 19, from 4:00pm to 7:00pm at MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation St. Worcester. A funeral Mass celebrating Joan's life will be held on Tuesday, March 20th at 11:00 a.m. at St. Bridget's Church, 59 Main Street in Millbury. In lieu of flowers donations may be given in Joan's memory to the Alzheimer's Association 311 Arsenal Street, Watertown MA, 02472. To share your thoughts and memories of Joan, please visit her personal guestbook at: mercadantefuneral.com