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Joan M. O’Brien
Beloved wife and mother;
Joan M. O’Brien of Westford, MA, passed away at her home in late evening of September 23, 2021 following a long illness. Joan succumbed to the effects of an autoimmune disease which she had resisted for the past 19 years.
Joan was the loving wife, for over 54 years, of Dr. Arnold L. O’Brien who survives her.
Born in 1941 in Lowell, MA to the late Samuel and Helen (Carey) McDonald she attended Lowell Schools.
Graduating from Lowell State College in 1962 with a BS in Education, Joan was the second person from Lowell to enter the Peace Corps; an action she took against the wishes of her family who feared for her safety. She lived in a nipa hut in the small village of Hagonoy, slept on a bamboo mat and served the Barrio of Guihing, Philippines as teacher and health advisor.
Upon her return she taught several elementary grades in the Lexington Public Schools where she was part of a Harvard University project to improve early education. In Lexington she met Arnold O’Brien whom she married in 1967.
Joan left teaching in Lexington in 1971 when her first child was born but remained active in education. In the early 80’s she served two terms on the Westford School Committee and was appointed by Westford officials to serve on the Nashoba Tech committee – an appointment she held for 20 years.
At the same time, she was serving on the committees, Joan bought and operated three Sylvan Learning Centers in Chelmsford, Acton and Nashua. Through the Centers she provided tutoring and educational support for students who needed more than their local districts could provide. She was a licensed child advocate and used her authority and knowledge of State and Federal programs to further assist her students.
In 2002, Illness caused her to retire from full time work at her Centers but her dedication to students and education drove her to volunteer her time as a tutor at Nashoba Tech. Eventually her progressing illness required her to leave her volunteer work.
For her long service and dedication to education, Joan received many awards and citations. Joan was recognized by the Massachusetts Association of School Committees with a lifetime achievement award for more than 25 years of service to public education; also a joint award from the Mass. Assoc of School Committees and the Nashoba Tech. District (6 Towns) for outstanding commitment to public education. Joan received a citation from the Massachusetts Office for Children in recognition of her “efforts on behalf of children in Massachusetts” and “dedication to the ideals of the office”. Joan also received a Volunteer Service Award from the Non-Profit Alliance of Greater Lowell and citations from the Sylvan Learning Corporation.
A devoted wife and mother who always had time for her family. She loved cooking and provided her family with a variety of foods and occasional exotic recipes. She was interested in travel and helped arrange several European homestay trips with her husband and school age children. A lover of the Maine seacoast, she made sure her family spent as much time there as possible.
Joan was passionate about life, adventurous and outgoing – traits she used to enrich the lives of her family and friends. In the broadest sense Joan was a builder, using her abundant energy to build family, young lives and institutions.
Besides her husband Arnold, she is survived by her Son Robert and daughter-in-law Kathy O’Brien of Wakefield, MA, by her daughter Susan and son-in-law Lucas Guarino of Springfield, NJ and grandchildren Thomas and Richard O’Brien and Sydney and Nathan Guarino. Also, by her brother David McDonald and his wife Peggy, nephews David, Carey, Tim McDonald and niece Meagan Fleming plus many cousins who live in the Lowell area.
Friends may call at the O’DONNELL FUNERAL HOME 276 PAWTUCKET ST. in LOWELL on Wednesday September 29, 2021, from 3:30 to 7:30 pm. The wearing of masks is encouraged. Relatives and friends are invited to attend her Funeral Mass to be celebrated Thursday morning at SAINT RITA’S CHURCH in LOWELL at 10:00 o’clock. Committal Services will be private. E-condolences/directions at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. Arrangements by Funeral Director James F. O’Donnell, Jr. 978-458-8768.
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