Joan J. Donovan

Joan J. (Johnson) Donovan, age 87, of Lynnfield and formerly of Lynn, died peacefully on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers, surrounded by her loving family, following a brief illness. She was the devoted wife of the late Joseph D. Donovan with whom she shared over 26 years of marriage and predeceased her in 1986. Born in Lynn, in 1939, she was the daughter of the late Clarence H. and Sophie L. (Podlecka) Johnson.

She was raised and educated in Lynn and graduated from Lynn Classical High School. She earned both a bachelor's degree and master's Degree from Salem State College. Joan worked as an elementary school teacher for the Lynn Public Schools for over 30 years at the Burrill, Sisson, Tracy & Fallon schools, and was a longtime member of the Lynn Teachers Union, Local 1037. She loved to travel with family and friends and would fondly reminisce of the many trips she took to Ireland, Italy, Spain, and cruises including one through the Panama Canal. Joan was a devoted grandmother, spending time with all her grandchildren, attending their innumerable activities and events, along with sleepovers and spoiling them. An avid reader and knitter, Joan also loved gardening, making her backyard beautiful.

Joan lived in Lynn for the first 82 years of her life before moving to Lynnfield 5 years ago. For the past several months, she lived at Sunrise Senior Living in Lynnfield. The family would like to acknowledge the staff at Sunrise for the compassionate care they showed Joan during her time there.

Joan is survived by her loving sons, Sean Donovan and his wife Deirdre of Lynnfield, Paul Donovan and his wife Patti of Salem, Brian Donovan and his wife Sharon of Hamilton, and Michael Donovan and his partner Lee Trahant of Lynn; her grandchildren, Andrew, Christopher, Colleen, Conor, Heather, Robert, Alexis, Sarah, Joseph, Maeve, and Nora Donovan, and Richard Kee and his wife Brittany and Danielle Calos; her great-grandchildren, Amelia and Dylan, and her sister in law Elaine Donovan of Lynn. In addition to her husband and parents, she was predeceased by her daughter-in-law Laurie Donovan.

A Funeral Service will be held on Friday, March 6, 2026 at the SOLIMINE FUNERAL HOME, 426 Broadway (Rt. 129), Lynn at 11a.m. Burial will be in Pine Grove Cemetery, Lynn. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. Visiting hours will be on Friday, March 6, 2026, from 9-11a.m., prior to the Funeral Service. Donations in Joan's memory may be made to the Kaplan Family Hospice House, 78 Libert St., Danvers, MA 01923. Directions and online guestbook at www.solimine.com