Joan Frances (Murray) LaVelle

Joan Frances (Murray) LaVelle, 92, a longtime resident of Brockton, died peacefully at home on Sunday, April 2, 2023, surrounded by her loving family.  She was the wife of the late Dale F. LaVelle.  She was the daughter of the late John J. and Helen Josephine (Crimlisk) Murray.  She was born at St. Elizabeth Hospital and raised in Brighton.  Joan was a graduate of Our Lady of Presentation High School in Brighton in the 1940s.  Joan began her work life as a librarian at the Boston Public Library in Oak Square, Brighton.  Thereafter she was a bookkeeper for her father’s ship’s chandler business on Commercial Wharf in Boston during the 1940s and 50s.  Throughout her life Joan would tell fascinating stories of life on the thriving Boston Waterfront of that era.  Prior to her marriage in 1962, she worked for several years at a Gillette Company office in Coolidge Corner, Brookline.  She had resided in Brockton since 1970.  Before her retirement in 1993, she had worked as a medical secretary in the Brockton area for over a decade.

Joan was a devout Catholic who enjoyed attending Mass at the Chapel of Our Savior in Brockton.  She volunteered at My Brother’s Keeper in Easton for many years.  For 50 years she was a member of a bowling league, first at Westgate Lanes in Brockton and then Norwood Sports Center.  She was an avid reader and enjoyed playing the piano and singing.  Joan had lifelong friends that she adored and enjoyed taking trips with them, especially to Foxwoods.  She volunteered with the Cardinal Spellman High School Drama Department making costumes for plays and was inducted into their Drama Club Hall of Fame.  She was an avid football fan, in particular the New England Patriots.  Her greatest joy was spending time with her family, especially her beloved grandchildren and enjoyed writing limericks and short stories about her family.

Joan is survived by her children, Maureen A. Sullivan and her husband Patrick of Brockton, Dale F. LaVelle, Jr. and his wife Yolanda Manay LaVelle of Newton and Kevin M. LaVelle of San Diego, CA as well as her grandchildren, Julianne Sullivan and her partner Osho Thakur, Dale Andre LaVelle, Sahra LaVelle and Ethan LaVelle.  She was the sister of the late Eleanor Engel, Sister Mary Phyllis Murray, Edward Murray and Dr. John “Jack” Murray.  She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Funeral Prayers will be offered from the Farley Funeral Home, 358 Park St. (Rt. 27) Stoughton on Thursday, April 6 at 10 AM.  Visiting Hours Wednesday, April 5 from 4-7 PM.  Interment will take place at St. Joseph Cemetery, West Roxbury.  In lieu of flowers, donations in Joan‘s memory may be made to Old Colony Hospice, 321 Manley St., West Bridgewater, MA 02379 (https://www.oldcolonyhospice.org/).