Joan M. Shaw

Shaw, Joan Marie (O’Leary) of Hingham, died peacefully on August 5, 2016, surrounded by family and under the exceptional and compassionate care of the staff at South Shore Hospital.

Joan grew up and attended school in Milton, Ma. She graduated from Boston College with a Bachelors degree in Education. She was a member of the first graduating class of women. Joan had taken steps to become a nun in the Catholic Church but was whisked off her feet by the love her life, Gerry. They married and moved to Hingham in 1963. Joan taught elementary school in Milton and later in the Hingham schools before staying home to raise her 4 children. She and her family spent summers at the family cottage in Bocabec, St. Andrews, Canada, fishing, swimming, watching sunsets, listening to the Red Sox, and enjoying the abundant local seafood. She and Gerry also spent time traveling to Europe, Bermuda and many other places. Joan was creative and enjoyed knitting, sewing and crafting. She was also a word enthusiast. She loved books and was an avid reader. She enjoyed playing Scrabble and loved doing crossword puzzles ’til the very end. Joan was a kind soul and always found a way to see the good in everyone. She had a wonderful and unique sense of humor. Joan was a Hingham resident for 53 years. She will be sadly missed but never forgotten. 

Beloved wife of 44 years to the late Gerard T. Shaw.  Loving mother of Elizabeth Marcus and her husband Jeffrey of  CT, Andrew Shaw and his wife Karyn of Northampton, Priscilla Lombard and her husband John of Ireland and Sarah Drury and her husband Paul of Hanover. Devoted grandmother of Zach, Eliza, Anna, Ian, Will, Angie, Jake, Ally, Ryan and Liam. Cherished daughter of the late Thomas and Agnes O’Leary. Caring sister of Paul O’Leary and his wife Frances of CA and the late Thomas O’Leary. Also survived by many nieces and nephews. 

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the visiting hours on Tuesday 5-8 PM in the Pyne Keohane Funeral Home, 21 Emerald St. (off Central St.), HINGHAM.  A Celebration of Life Service will be held in the funeral home at 9 AM on Wednesday prior to the Funeral Mass in St. Mary’s Church, Hanover at 10 AM. Burial in Milton Cemetery, Milton.