Avid gardener who loved to travel, the beach and relaxing on her deck
CENTERVILLE — Joan Marie McAuliffe, born on April 3, 1931 in Cambridge passed away peacefully in her sleep on January 17 at her home in Centerville. She was the beloved daughter of Cornelius and Gertrude Carroll and the youngest of three siblings.
Joan graduated from Rosary Academy and earned her Bachelors degree from Regis College in 1953. She began her career as a journalist for the Record American covering the society page and attended numerous Boston social and sporting events. In 1958, she married Donald McAuliffe and together they built a loving home in Wakefield where they raised their five children. Summers on Cape Cod were a cherished tradition for Joan and her family and in 2003 she retired to the Cape full-time.
Joan’s later years were filled with joy as she devoted herself to her 12 grandchildren and two great grandchildren creating lasting memories. She is remembered for her dedication to family, vibrant spirit, apple pies, potato salad and her legendary fourth of July parties. Fourth of July was a special day for Joan as she met Donald in 1956 at the parade in Wakefield. She was an avid gardener, particularly her beloved hydrangeas.
Joan loved to travel whether it was road trips to NH in the country squire with her young family and in her later years further afar to China, New Zealand, Europe and riding a camel in Egypt. More recently she gathered her entire family of 27 in Florida for Christmas 2023. She loved the beach, going out to dinner and relaxing on her deck overlooking the water. She had cherished neighbors in Wakefield and Centerville and continued to visit lifelong friends from high school and college until her passing.
She was predeceased by her husband Donald. Joan is survived by her five children: Donald Jr. (Lyne); Catherine (Ray Brooks); Mary Beth Cox; Carol Ann Delmonico (John); and Meg Chute (Gary). She also leaves behind 12 grandchildren: Timothy (Samantha), Connor, William (Morgan) (McAuliffe), Sarah, Emily, Daniel (Brooks), Caroline, Kenneth, Christopher (Cox); Peter, Jack and Maggie (Delmonico); and two great-granddaughters Nora and Sophia McAuliffe.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, January 26 from 2 to 6 p.m. at Doane, Beal and Ames, 160 West Main St., Hyannis. Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, January 27 at 11 a.m. at Our Lady Of Victory, 230 S Main St., Centerville. Burial will be private. To share a memory or leave a condolence, please visit doanebealameshyannis.com.