Joan Frances (Roumacher) Horan

To view Joan's Funeral Mass Via Livestream click on the link sjspwellesley.org/sp/live/

Joan Frances Horan (Roumacher) Needham, MA  

Joan Frances Horan (Roumacher) passed away on January 30, 2023, at the age of 89 surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Boston, MA, one of the six children of Francis J and Clara (Harrison) Roumacher.  She is survived by her brother, Francis J Roumacher, and she was pre-deceased by her four sisters: Priscilla Riordan, Nancy Lake, Phyllis Jennings and MaryLou Roumacher.

Joan graduated from Jamaica Plain High School in 1950. She worked in the foreign dept of the First

National Bank of Boston until the birth of her first child.  She dated her beloved husband, Richard T (Dick) Horan, while he was a senior at Boston College. They were married in 1953 and enjoyed 69 years of a wonderful married life, rich with memories of raising their children.

They welcomed seven children into their happy home between 1954 and 1968:  Kathleen A. Berman (Robert) 1954-2005, Richard T. Horan, Jr (Linda) 1955, Michael P. Horan  (Susan) 1957, David C. Horan

1959, Diane E. Rodier (Stephen) 1962, Patricia M. Lilley (Jay) 1965, and Joan B. Twining (Edmund) 1968.

Six of her children were married over the years, and Joan welcomed their spouses into her family and grew to love them as much as her own children. She looked forward to visits and celebrations with them, especially Christmas and birthdays.

Joan welcomed her first grandchild into her life when Elizabeth Horan was born in 1979. A dozen more grandchildren would arrive in the years to follow. Ira, Abigail, Meredith, Katherine, Richard III, Alexandra, Mollie, Douglas, Daniel, Dianne, Edmund V and Cecilia.

When the grandchildren came of age and married, twelve great-grandchildren soon arrived. The most recent was Jack Latona, born in 2022. The others are Christopher, Daniel, Benjamin, Charles, Ella, Lincoln, Quinlan, Richard IV, Russell, John and Jocelyn.

Joan and Dick lived first in Jamaica Plain on Moss Hill, followed by happy years in Wellesley, then moved to their current home at North Hill in Needham.  Joan also enjoyed sixty very happy summers on Cape Cod. Joan was blessed to enjoy time in Naples, Florida, for winter retreats for about 20 years, enjoying golf at Royal Palm CC, social times with Florida friends, leisurely swims in the pool and quiet beach time.  

Summers were a special time for all.  Great times were spent there with family and friends – happy times with tennis and fun in Craigville Village and at Dowses Beach, and later Craigville Beach

Association (CBA).  On every sunny day she packed the lunch cooler and some money for the snack bar to keep everyone smiling. This is a very special beach for our Horan clan to this day. 

They made a happy move in 1980 to Oakdale Path in Osterville. There they met a group of new friends while keeping up with Craigville and Hyannisport crowd, and Joan enjoyed tennis, golf and the beach at the Oyster Harbors Club. The children and grandchildren also enjoyed many summer and weekend visits at the Oyster Harbors home and club, still fitting in some CBA days, and gathering for large fourth of July parties which were combined with the birthdays of Dick and Michael. 

Sadly, Joan and Dick endured the sudden loss of her firstborn daughter Kathleen in 2005. It was the most painful of losses, but Kathy is lovingly remembered by her family and friends, and a scholarship fund was established in her memory at her alma mater, the UMass School of Nursing.

Joan and Dick kept the family solidly grounded in their Catholic faith. The two of them and the seven children often filled a pew at a Sunday Mass. Most of the children attended parochial schools for part of their education. Joan and Dick had close friendships with pastors and priests – especially during early years at St. Thomas Aquinas in Jamaica Plain. She enjoyed her friendship with Msgr. Joseph Lind, their former pastor at St. Paul’s in Wellesley. The couple also spent countless hours engaged with Boston College in various volunteer activities.

Joan is known for her needlework of all kinds. She started sewing and knitting in high school and continued well into her later years, often making clothing for herself and dress clothes for her young children. She seldom sat down without knitting needles in her hands. Her family and friends enjoy her hats and sweaters, and dozens of her large knitted afghans are keeping many of her family and friends warm on winter days. She even made argyle socks for herself and husband Dick!  Many of her beautiful needlepoint works are framed and hanging on the walls of her and her children’s homes and are greatly admired.

Joan lived a long and busy life. A life devoted to her beloved husband Dick, her seven children and her extended family. She was a gentle, soft-spoken, kind, generous and compassionate woman. She always put the needs of others ahead of her own. And she was one of the most amazing home-makers in every way.  Her life was centered on her faith, family and friends. She was much loved by all who knew her and loved them in return. She will be part of many cherished memories and happy times.

Services will be held on Friday, February 3rd, with visitation beginning at 10:00 AM followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM. both at St Paul’s Church at 502 Washington Street in Wellesley, followed by interment at Forest Hills Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, gifts are appreciated in Joan’s memory to the scholarship fund established in memory of her daughter Kathleen Horan Berman’s alma mater, the UMass School of Nursing sent to: Umass Amherst, Marieb College of Nursing, Attn: Olivia Frazier, 651 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA 01003, noting Kathleen Horan Berman Scholarship on the note line.

To view Joan's Funeral Mass Via Livestream click on the link sjspwellesley.org/sp/live/