WOBURN — Joan L. (Manning) Tufts, 77, a longtime resident of Woburn, passed away peacefully at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital on Thursday, March 19.
Joan was born on April 1, 1937 in Melrose, one of three daughters of the late Joseph and Ruth (Connolly) Manning. She was raised in Melrose, graduated from Melrose High School, Class of 1954 and lived in Woburn for the last 30 years. Joan enjoyed her working career as a secretary for New England Telephone Co. and later Verizon.
True to her Irish heritage, Joan was a fun loving, sociable woman who was always smiling and forever loyal to her friends and family. Joan especially loved gathering together and celebrating birthdays and holidays with her family. She had decorations for every holiday throughout the year, and enjoyed hanging lots of decorations around her condo. Joan also cherished several cruises with her beloved sisters to Europe, Alaska, Russia and just this winter to the Bahamas. In her free time, Joan loved playing cards, especially mahjong or poker, with her friends and neighbors in Woburn. Joan will be forever remembered by all who knew her as a loving, independent woman who cherished her family.
Joan was the beloved mother of Robert J. Tufts and his wife Ann of Stoneham; James M. Tufts of Stoneham; Donna M. DeLuca of Woburn; and John R. Tufts of Woburn. She was the cherished sister of Ruth L. Manni and her husband Victor of Wilmington; and the late Mary Lou A. Oatis. She was the loving grandmother of Nicole, Shaun, Patrick, Andrew, James, Vanessa, Robert and Christina, and was the great-grandmother of Dominic. She is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends gathered in honor and remembrance of Joan’s life during visiting hours at the Robinson Funeral Home, 809 Main St., Melrose on Tuesday, March 24, and again on Wednesday, March 25 before leaving in procession to Most Blessed Sacrament Church, 1155 Main St., Wakefield for her funeral Mass. Interment will take place in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Stoneham. Gifts in Joan’s memory may be made to VNA of Middlesex-East, 607 North Ave., Ste. 17, Wakefield, MA 01880. For directions or online tribute visit RobinsonFuneralHome.com.
