Joan Shannon Lakey (born Ryan) died peacefully on November 7, 2019 at Tippett Hospice Home in Needham, MA. She was 88 years old. Joan was born in Pawtucket, RI to parents James T. Ryan and Mary Mullen Ryan. She attended Lockwood High School in Warwick, RI and began her career working for the telephone company soon after graduation. She began as an operator and retired as a customer service representative. Joan was an active member of the Sweet Adelines, an all-women’s singing group, from her early 20’s until after the birth of her first child. She attended competitions and formed life-long friendships through this group. She married Gardner Lakey in 1959 and celebrated their 60 th wedding anniversary with him this past June. They purchased a home in Warwick in 1961 where they raised their five children. She loved embroidering and created many beautiful keepsakes for her children, grandchildren, and friends. She was an active member of her parish, St. Catherine’s in RI, and later at St. John the Evangelist church in Wellesley. She and Gardner were huge college hockey fans. They held season tickets for Providence College and attended many “Frozen Four” competitions across the country. They also both loved listening to and signing along to barbershop music.
Joan is survived by her husband Gardner, her five children: Ellen Daly and her husband Tony of Natick, MA, Stephen Lakey and his wife Melanie of Sarasota, FL, Eileen Buckham and her husband Jim of Wellesley, MA, Geri Denton and her husband Jeff of Stratham, NH, and Maureen Gass and her husband Jamie of Newton, MA; her 7 grandchildren: Lauren, Andrew, Abigail, Nicholas, Tyler, Helen, and Lydia; and her brother James T. Ryan, Jr. She is preceded in death by her brother, Richard Ryan.
Calling hours for Joan Lakey will be at Henry J. Burke & Sons Funeral Home in Wellesley, MA on Monday, November 11, from 4-7pm. A funeral mass will take place on Tuesday, November 12 at 10:00 am at St. John the Evangelist Church in Wellesley. Burial will take place at the Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery at 2:00pm. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Joan’s life. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Stanley R. Tippett Hospice Home in Needham, MA