JOAN CARRIGAN

CARRIGAN, Joan (St. Pierre) Age 59, Quincy, MA, born in Salem, MA, on April 12, 1966, Joanie was the youngest of the 11 children born to Leonard and Shirley St. Pierre. She came into the world to the delight of her ten brothers and sisters and spent her life reminding them, by both word and deed, why their joy was well founded. Joanie attended the Bates School and Pickering School in Salem, and graduated with the Salem High School Class of 1984, where she played first clarinet in the marching band. She went on to graduate from Stonehill College in 1988 and was a central figure and lifelong member of a dedicated group of dear friends known as "The LBB's." These ladies, along with Joanie, traveled, dined and socialized regularly, and never allowed their early friendships to do anything but multiply in depth and richness. They were, and remain today, her closest friends and their steadfast ties were always a point of pride in her very full life. In July of 1995, Joanie married Todd Carrigan, her great love and husband of 30 years. Together, they made an inviting and gracious home that was filled with humor, devotion, enduring love and lots of homemade cookies. Joanie worked for a time in the design area of the clothing industry retiring in 1999 to focus her eye for detail and style on the triumphs and agonies of Hollywood celebrities as they walked the red carpets of countless televised award shows. Her post-Emmy, Oscar and Tony missives where she chronicled the celebrities dress choices were eagerly awaited by her fan base and as was the case with all of her opinions, she was invariably on point and unmovable. Once having stepped away from business, Joanie traveled extensively and enjoyed experiencing the world through annual trips abroad both with the Stonehill College Alumni travel group and private explorations with Todd. Joanie lived a too-short life whose foundation was built on gentle kindness, raucous laughter, selflessness, and dedication to her husband and her enormous extended family. She was the Royal Curator of St. Pierre babies sent from heaven to her brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews by her beloved mother Shirley. She was incapable of forgetting a birthday, anniversary or a thank-you note. Joanie was the hub of her family, and made certain that not a month passed without having a sisters' lunch to celebrate one of their birthdays, or just to catch up and get everyone together. She led the planning each year for the annual family Christmas luncheon at Salem Country Club, making sure that every detail was as perfect as possible. Her generosity was legend and her constant giving miraculous. She was the President of the local St. Vincent dePaul Chapter for over a decade, and her great joy was finding ways to be the solution to somebody's problem, every day of her life. Joanie is survived by her husband, Todd Carrigan and his family; her ten brothers and sisters, Richard St. Pierre (Barbara), Leonard St. Pierre, Jr. (Angela), Dr. David St. Pierre (Luanne), Mark St. Pierre (Betsy), Thomas St., Pierre (Janine), Carol Savage (Paul), Martha St. Pierre, Andrew St. Pierre (Kathy), Ann Edgerton (Michael) and Barbara Mullin (Michael); and 32 nieces and nephews, who along with 30 grandnieces and nephews, never knew any other world except one that saw unexpected gifts, college survival packages , birthday and anniversary notes and "get well," "cheer-up," "miss you," and just "thinking of you" cards arrive from Joanie. Her love for her family was boundless and without limitation She wanted all of her family, and anyone else fortunate enough to step into her light, to know that they were important, special and would never be forgotten. She was appreciated, admired, respected and enormously loved and will be grievously missed by all who knew her. Family and friends are invited to a Memorial Service for Joanie that will be held at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 1 Margin Street, Salem, MA, on October 24, at 11:30AM. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Joanie's name to Boston Children's Hospital. (giving.childrenshospital.org) or to the American Heart Association (heart.org)

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