Joan Mary (Lovejoy) Coady, 91, of South Burlington, Vt., passed away peacefully on July 28, 2025, with her daughters by her side.
Born in Burlington, Vt., on May 22, 1934, Joan was the only daughter of Robert F. Lovejoy and Olive (Goodhue) Lovejoy. Raised in a large, loving family on Lakeview Terrace, she remained close and connected to her five brothers throughout her life.
Joan graduated from Cathedral High School in 1952 and immediately began working at General Electric in Burlington. With her strong work ethic, she was reliable, dedicated, and respected by her peers and employers, including those at Aetna, the Vermont Home Builders of Northern Vermont, University Orthopedics and her favorite of all, IBM, from which she retired in 1993. Graced with natural beauty, Joan also modeled for a variety of clothing stores in her younger years.
She married Jack Barry of Waterbury, Vt., in April of 1955. Married for more than 20 years, their three daughters were the center of her world. Joan later spent 32 years with her companion, Wendell Carr of South Burlington.
Joan, our beloved mother, cherished her time with her family, never missing an opportunity to gather, even spontaneously. She reveled in each and every family celebration throughout the year, usually entertaining us with her humor and her hilarious dance moves! Known affectionately as Mimi to her eight grandchildren and many of their friends, she played a significant and meaningful role in their lives, and we just can’t imagine the days ahead without her. Our mom never tired of telling us how much she loved each and every one of us, and we couldn’t possibly put into words the deep love we will always feel for her.
Our mom was a lifelong Catholic, her faith an important facet of her life. She was especially devoted and generous to organizations that benefited children and those with few resources.
Joan is survived by her three daughters, Kathleen Marecek and her husband, John; Maureen Post and her husband, Bill; and Bridget Barry Caswell and her husband, Wright. She is also survived by her beloved grandchildren, Elisabeth Yagley, Laura Smith, Matthew Yagley (Sherri), Jill Ravey Dolan (Patrick), Carly Caswell, Jack Caswell, Hank Caswell and Grace Caswell; and her eight great-grandchildren, Logan and McKenna Giacche; Abby Bennett; Leos, Celeste, Noah and Skye Yagley; and Sylvie Dolan. In addition, she leaves behind two brothers, Gerald Lovejoy and his wife, Sandy, and Reginald Lovejoy and his wife, Fran; her sister-in-law Carole Lovejoy, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Joan was predeceased by her parents; by her brothers Robert, Michael and Bernard Lovejoy; by her sister-in-law Patricia Lovejoy; and by her longtime companion, Wendell Carr.
Per Joan’s request, a private Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the convenience of the family with interment to follow in Resurrection Park Cemetery in South Burlington.
This article appears in Seven Daysies 2025.