Joan O'Neil

Rye Beach - Joan (Joanie) Donohoe O’Neil passed away on Tuesday, June 15th, 2021 at the age of 80 after a long illness in her beloved home in Rye Beach, NH. Joanie was surrounded by the love of her family in her favorite place on this planet. Joanie grew up in Chelmsford, MA, graduated from Newton College and earned an MA from Boston College. Joanie raised her four children in Newton, MA and spent many summers in Hull, MA watching them sail in the bay as she lounged in her favorite hammock with a good book or a crossword puzzle always at hand. Joanie finally got around to using her Political Science degree when she went to work for both the Weld and Cellucci administrations for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. She loved the excitement of the State House and met wonderful co-workers and lifelong friends who always knew where to find an aspirin or lunch money when needed. Joanie moved to Rye Beach NH in 1990. It was here where she created a rich and vibrant life for herself as she used her charming personality, brilliant wit, and fantastic cooking skills to make friends and become a part of this lovely community. Joanie was a member of the Rye Beach Club, volunteered for the Rye Public Library, The Seacoast Science Center, and The Fuller Gardens. She leaves many dear friends in the Precinct and well beyond. Her home was the site of many raucous family reunions, Christmas celebrations, and weekends entertaining friends from all over the world with whom she was delighted to share robust debates, laughs, food, and pinot grigio. Joanie was predeceased by her parents John and Kathleen Donohoe, Her sister Anne Sheehan, her sister Barbara Newton and her husband Bill, and her brother John Corbett Donohoe Jr. She leaves her heartbroken children; Joseph of Somerville, MA, John of Boston, MA, Terence of Alfred, ME and Maureen of Cambridge, MA, who will always be grateful for her unwavering love and unyielding support; her daughters-in-law; Heather of Somerville, MA and Dina of Boston, MA who she absolutely loved and to whom she spent the last 25 years giving advice that was often unsolicited, but always with the best of intentions. Her seven grandchildren, Evelyn, Madeline, Audrey, Joseph, Lindsay, Fergus, and Hugo, who will never fully comprehend how much joy they brought to her. Joanie also leaves her sister-in-law Missey Donohoe of Marblehead, MA and many adoring and adored nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews. Joanie’s friends and duckies are invited to a celebration of her life at The Abenaqui Country Club on Friday, July 16th from 2-5pm. Abenaqui Country Club is located at 731 Central Road in Rye Beach, NH. In lieu of flowers, Joanie had asked that donations be made to: The Riverview School, 551 MA-6A, East Sandwich, MA 02537.

Joan O'Neil

August 8, 1940 - June 15, 2021