Joan Kenneway

ATHOL - Joan (Tower) Kenneway, 82, of 231 Drury Avenue, Athol, died on Saturday, November 20, 2010 at the Quabbin Valley Healthcare in Athol. She was born in Spencer on August 8, 1928, the daughter of the late Ralph E. and the late Florence J. (Lyon) Tower. Joan was raised in Spencer and Leicester, graduating from Leicester High School with the class of 1946. While in high school, she worked part-time for the Goldenrod in York Beach, Maine. Upon her marriage to Mitchell N. Kenneway in 1948, she moved to Spencer for eight years before moving to West Palm Beach, Florida where she resided with her family for ten years. While in Florida, Joan worked for several department stores. Joan returned to Massachusetts and resided in Worcester and Orange before settling in Athol forty years ago. She previously worked for the former Union Twist Drill Company for five years and the Minute Tapioca Company in Orange. More recently, Joan worked for the L. S. Starrett Tool Company for nearly twenty-five years until her retirement. She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Gardner and their Relief Society and Young Women's Group. Joan and Mitchell ran the Bishop's Food Pantry in Worcester together for several years. She enjoyed reading, researching genealogy, traveling and camping. She leaves one son, Karl S. Kenneway and his wife Charlene of Athol; three daughters, Karen Colo and her husband William of Athol, Carol A. Reed of North Carolina, Sandra J. Kenneway of Orange; daughter in-law, Deborah Kenneway of Florida; one sister, Ann Yokie of Florida; one brother, Henry "Hank" Tower of Florida; nine grandchildren, Michael Kenneway of North Carolina, Adam Kenneway of Florida, Jennifer McNamara of Athol, Kevin Colo of Athol, Sarah Colo of Boxborough, James Colo of Athol, Edward LeBlanc of North Carolina, Jennel Hurlburt of Orange, Jacob Johnson of Orange; nine great grandchildren, Steven, Bridget, Stephanie and Michael Kenneway, all of North Carolina, Aidan and Clare McNamara, Madison and Alex Colo all of Athol, and Melissa LeBlanc; one great-great granddaughter, Kaylee Kenneway of North Carolina; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband of fifty-four years, Mitchell N. Kenneway, in 2002; also by her son, Norman F. Kenneway, in 2002; by her sisters, Pauline Bisson and Lois Duquette; and by two grandchildren, Norman Kenneway, in 2003, and Joshua LeBlanc in 2009. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 4, 2010 at 12:00 p.m. in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 634 Pearl Street, Gardner. Burial in the Massachusetts Veterans' Memorial Cemetery, Winchendon, will be private. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be made in her memory to Quabbin Valley Healthcare - Dana Activity Fund, 821 Daniel Shays Highway, Athol, MA 01331 or to New England Geriatrics Hospice, 821 Daniel Shays Highway, Athol, MA 01331. $(document).ready(function(){ });