A woman of many talents who was wise and warm, witty and kind
NORTH READING — Joanna Elizabeth (Domey) Thibodeau, loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend, passed from this world on Saturday morning April 27, 2024 in her North Reading home while being held in the arms of her two adoring children.
Born in Lynn, she was the daughter of the late John F. and Edith V. (Bergstrom) Domey and sister to the late Raymond G. Domey and Patricia E. Domey.
Raised in Saugus, Joanna would describe her youth as simply wonderful. A time of pride and patriotism, a simpler time when it was all about family, God, and country. She would recount spending her youth attending Saugus schools, skating on Lilly Pond, beach days, bicycle rides around Saugus Center, her childhood friends that she kept throughout her life, and all the fun she had cheering for Saugus High School in her senior year as head cheerleader alongside her sister, the cheerleaders and twirlers all in their splendid regalia of the time, cheering on their Saugus Sachems football team.
After graduating Saugus High, class of 1956, Joanna attended the Chandler School for Women in Boston and upon graduation she landed a job at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear infirmary where she remained until starting her family.
Joanna married the love of her life, Paul T. Thibodeau on Feb 8, 1959; they remained married until his sudden passing in 1995. She would never marry again as in her eyes he was her one true love and soulmate.
Joanna and Paul moved to North Reading in 1961 where they chose to raise their family. Her family meant everything to her. In the mid 1970s as her children got older, she decided to venture back into the work force and at the suggestion of a friend she got a job waitressing. She would practice with her kids, handing them menus at the dinner table trying to remember their orders while they all laughed. She loved the hustle and bustle and excitement of that line of work and remained working part time until her retirement from the Piccadilly Pub at age 70.
If you drove past her house she could be seen on any given day outside gardening, raking, up on a ladder painting or perhaps if it were winter you might catch a glimpse of her outside making a snowman. She took pride in working hard and kept her home and yard neat and kempt right until the end.
Though a homebody at heart, Joanna enjoyed traveling and in her later years took many trips with her sister, her daughter and her granddaughter.
She attended church as a child only because her parents made her go, as the church was right next door, but later in life, she was thankful for it. She felt that turning to a higher power was something important to have and throughout her adult life she said a prayer for those she loved every night before she went to bed.
Joanna had many talents, far too many to list. She also had boundless energy while well, a sense of humor those closest to her know all too well, was as sharp as a tack, smart as a whip, stubborn as a mule, and as loving and loyal as could be. She was wise and warm, witty and kind. Heaven has gained an Angel but there is now a huge hole for those of us she left behind.
Preceded in death by her husband, Paul T. Thibodeau, and son, Paul M. Thibodeau, Joanna leaves behind her loving daughter, Suzanne Sierra of Peabody, her loving son, John T. Thibodeau (Catherine Cutler) of Danvers, her grandson Michael Sierra, her granddaughters Joelle Sierra-George, Nicole Thibodeau Buchanan, and Sarah Thibodeau, and her great-grandson Lucas.
Services will be private and any thoughtful donations may be made in her memory to a charity of your choosing. Arrangements are under the direction of the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow St., North Reading. To leave an online message of condolence, please visit www.croswellfuneralhome.com
