Joyce Heapes

Joyce Petersen Heapes joined her loved ones in heaven on October 22, at the age of 92. She is predeceased by her parents, Ralph and Alice Petersen, her brother, Ralph Petersen, her twin sister, Joanne McCarron and her son-in-law, Michael (Mickey) Conneely.

She will always be loved by her children: Jeanne Conneely of Weymouth, John Heapes and his wife, Sue of Weymouth, Ted Heapes and his wife, Julie of Hanson and Joanne Fortier and her husband, Larry of Bow, New Hampshire. Joyce adored her grandchildren: Jason Flannery-Heapes and his wife, Laurisa, Jessica Heapes and her husband, Jamin Steigerwald, Michael and Alice Conneely, Hunter and Riley Fortier and her great grandchildren: Hunter and Behr. She held a special place in her heart for her Petersen nephews, Rick and Pat and her McCarron nieces and nephews; Maryalice, Paul, Kath, Beth and Pete(deceased). 

Joyce was born in Cohasset and lived her entire life on the South Shore. She earned a bachelor's degree in teaching at Curry College and a Master of Education at Eastern Nazarene. She cherished her days as a reading specialist in Hingham, Cohasset, Braintree and Saint Paul's Schools. She exhibited tremendous patience and delighted in her students' accomplishments. But it was her role as mom that she devoted her life to. Joyce loved writing poetry and once wrote of Mother's Day, "You made me mother, you know.This is really your day. Without you I would not be what I am most proud of being." 

Joyce also enjoyed reading, tending her garden, and a beautiful day on her back deck with friends and the ocean breeze. She loved the people in her life and took great care to nourish those relationships, the family and friends that filled her life with joy. Joyce will forever be loved by all those lucky enough to have been loved by her. 

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to greet the family during the visiting hours on Friday November 1, 2024 from 4-7 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 9:15 AM on Saturday November 2, 2024 prior to the Funeral Mass in St. Paul’s Church, Hingham at 10 AM. Burial in Fairmount Cemetery, Weymouth will immediately follow. See www.Keohane.com for directions and online condolences.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Unbound.org, educating children living in poverty, an organization Joyce sponsored for many years.