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Joy H. Hanrahan
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Joy Hanrahan Obituary
Winchester, NH - Burt Hill is a little poorer as Joy H. Hanrahan died on July 30th, 2025. Joy moved to Burt Hill in August of 1971 into a house she had always dreamed of living in since she was a girl. There she found peace and happiness. She raised two children, one husband, and numerous critters.
Born in Brattleboro VT in 1947 she lived in Winchester, NH early in her childhood and then moved to Northfield, MA. She attended the Northfield School for Girls for two years and then graduated from Pioneer Valley Regional School in 1966. She then attended Westfield Teachers College where she earned a degree in education, a topic she felt passionate about her whole life.
On Friday the 13th, 1970 she married Richard Hanrahan and stayed married for 55 years. She started her career as a science teacher at Thayer High School and went on to work for many years at Northfield Mt. Hermon where she forged many friendships and furthered her support of education. Joy was fiercely passionate about ensuring that her daughters and granddaughters received the best education possible, making many sacrifices to send her kids to high school at Northfield Mt Hermon and her granddaughters to Stoneleigh Burnham, Deerfield Academy, and Wellan Montessori. Her daughters went on to receive degrees from Mt. Holyoke College, Yale University, Duke University, and Vanderbilt University so her plans to instill the importance of education were wildly successful.
Joy always had health problems from Lupus to heart disease but she never let it slow her down or cause her to pity herself. If Joy had a motto it would be never criticize, complain, or condemn, praise people for what they do well and forget the bad. She tackled every day with a smile and brought Joy to the world with her can do attitude. Her infectious warmth and love will be greatly missed.
Joy leaves behind her husband, 2 daughters, a son-in-law, and 3 granddaughters who she adored.
Donations in her memory and in honor of her legacy, may be made to Northfield Mt Hermon School.
Kidder Funeral Home, 1 Parker Ave., Northfield, Mass is assisting the family with arrangements.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
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