Joan Raymond

MILLBURY – Joan D. (Handfield) Raymond, 63, passed away on 14 July 2018 at the Worcester Rehabilitation and Health Care Center after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.  She is survived by her husband, Douglas; her sons, Jeff and his wife Ann Marie and Kyle; her brother Richard and his wife, Kathy; her sister, Gail Santoro and her husband, Ralph; her grandson, Dashiell; and numerous aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews, and other close friends.  She is predeceased by her parents, Richard and Beverly (Cofske) Handfield of Millbury.

Joan’s childhood was split between Upton and Millbury, the latter of which she spent the entirety of her adult life.  She attended Assumption School in Millbury, and was a proud graduate of Holy Name High School in Worcester.  She took classes at Salter Secretarial School and spent much of her professional life as an employee of the Town of Millbury as a head clerk, including the Planning Department and the Millbury Police.  Toward the end of her professional career, she worked at the after-school program at Elmwood Street School, a role she loved.

Joan was also active and dedicated to her community in Millbury.  She served on the Millbury Planning Board for a number of years as well as the Millbury Affordable Housing Committee, and was proud of her work in not only assisting in bringing the Shoppes at Blackstone Valley into the town, but also in helping expand affordable housing in Millbury during her public service tenure.

Joan’s family in particular thanks the Summit Eldercare program of Worcester, Massachusetts, for their support and guidance, but also thanks the friends and family who took time out of their busy lives to spend time with Joan and assist her family during her illness.

Funeral services will be private.  In lieu of flowers, donations in Joan’s memory may be made to Summit Eldercare, Recreation Department, 1369 Grafton St. in Worcester, MA 01604 or the Friends of Millbury Seniors, to assist in Millbury’s goal in becoming a Dementia-Friendly Community. One River St. in Millbury, MA 01527