Hale, Joan Kelly
By Canton CitizenJoan Kelly Hale, 85, of Springfield, formerly of Wilbraham and Canton, died peacefully on August 1, 2020.
The daughter of Joseph and Edna (Hewitt) Kelly, she was raised in North Easton. After graduating from Oliver Ames High School in 1952, she studied at the Boston Dispensary and worked in the Bacteriology Lab at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Joan married Frank Hale III in 1958 and together they raised six children in Canton: sons Frank, Michael (Rachel) of Northampton and Thomas (Lauri) of Woodbridge, VA, and daughters Mary-Lee Hood (Tom) of Memphis, TN, Kelly Dietz of State College, PA, and Catherine Duquette (Tom) of Wilbraham.
Joan was heavily involved in the Canton community, volunteering for F.I.S.H., Red Cross blood drives, Canton Garden Club, and especially at St. John the Evangelist Church as a pre-cana counselor, Eucharistic minister, and in the CCD program.
Joan was preceded in death by her husband, sister Mary (Boyle), and her son, Francis IV. She is survived by her brothers Peter (Chagrin Falls, OH) and Paul (S. Easton). She leaves behind 10 grandchildren who will dearly miss her.
Funeral arrangements are with the Wilbraham Funeral Home, but due to the pandemic the date is TBD. Donations in Joan’s name may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society (c/o St. John the Evangelist Church, Canton) or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105.
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