Joan Elizabeth Sullivan

Joan E. Sullivan (Brown) of Norwood, MA and Yarmouth Port, MA, age 92, passed peacefully on December 10, 2024. Beloved wife of the late James J. Sullivan; and daughter of the late Elizabeth and Francis Brown of Dorchester. Loving mother of Maureen Morrissey of Cambridge; Kevin Sullivan and wife Jennifer of New London, NH; Nancy Bussiere and husband Daniel of Norwood; and, James Sullivan and wife Maryanne of Medfield. Cherished and loving grandmother to Katherine, James, and Eric Sullivan; Robert and Caroline Bussiere; and, Erin, David, and Finch Sullivan. The loving sister of Phyllis Dunn of Weymouth and the late Robert Brown of Cambridge. Also survived by sisters-in-law Susan Lang, Vita Loiacono and Catherine O’Rourke. 

Joan was originally from Dorchester and loved to reminisce and fondly share stories about her childhood; including “summering” on Nutting Lake in Billerica. She was a 1950 graduate of Dorchester High for Girls where she excelled as a student. After high school she worked for the New England Telephone Company, where she met her husband. Joan was dedicated and loving to family and friends and happiest when in their company. Whether gathering for a family dinner, attending her children or grandchildren's sporting events or going for a walk on the beach with her grandchildren, her family brought her great joy. She volunteered at Children’s Hospital in Boston deep into her retirement and she would often say that the patients she served brought more joy to her life than she did to theirs.  

Relatives and friends are invited to attend Visiting Hours in the Holden, Dunn and Lawler Funeral Home, 55 High Rock St., Westwood, on Monday December 16 from 4-7pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday morning, December 17 at 11am in St. Catherine of Siena Church, 547 Washington St., Norwood. Interment at St. Joseph Cemetery, West Roxbury. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joan’s memory to Boston Children’s Hospital at giving.childenshospital.org.