Joanne McGlynn left this world on October 25, 2024, and as a teacher, a community volunteer, and a beloved family leader, she left it a bit better. Born on December 17, 1953, Joanne was the first child of Edward and Annette McGlynn. For a time, she was the only child, and she enjoyed the full attention and love of her parents, grandparents and many aunts and uncles. Eventually, many siblings and cousins came along, and Joanne discovered her true calling: teaching. Joanne's own education started at Holy Ghost School and Tiverton High School, where she was voted the first female class president and moreover found her political footing as she led student opposition to a proposed oil refinery in Tiverton. Later she attended Providence College, and spent a year abroad in Switzerland, graduating magna cum laude. She would later receive a Master of Arts in Teaching from Brown University. Joanne was a tour guide at the USS Battleship Massachusetts and worked in advertising sales for many historic landmarks. She then began her formal teaching career in New Hampshire at Londonderry High School and later Concord High School, where she also spent two years as Assistant Principal. She accompanied students to Mexico to learn its culture and the language. She taught a class on media literacy and engaged her students in the national primaries during the presidential elections. She had the unique opportunity to host most of the candidates at assemblies in the auditorium at Concord High School, routinely making the national news. She made Concord High School a required stop on the road to the White House.

Joanne would later retire to her hometown of Tiverton. She frequently traveled to El Paso, Texas and taught ESL to Mexican children at the border, and later, at home, tutored adults from Central America. She provided care to her mother, was a mentor to her nieces and great nieces and hosted an annual party during the holidays with memorable themes.  She loved traveling to Canada and to Europe. She was an avid reader, a member of her local library book club and loved the Circle of Scholar classes at Salve Regina.

Joanne was equally beloved by her friends and her family. She left this world a better place.

Joanne was predeceased by her parents, Edward F. McGlynn, Jr., and Annette (Hurel) McGlynn. She leaves behind her siblings, John McGlynn (wife Nancy), Jane Hoyle (husband John), and James McGlynn (wife Marsha), her nephew, her nieces, great-nieces, and cousins. She also leaves behind her beloved cats, Minou and Titou.

Her life will be celebrated at a Funeral Mass at St. Mary's Cathedral, Fall River. Massachusetts, on Friday, November 8th at 10:00 AM. Burial at Pocasset Cemetery in Tiverton will follow. If you would like to honor her memory, donations may be made to support the work of the Religious of the Assumption and their mission to help immigrants:

Religious of the Assumption
300-2 McCombs Road, PMB #43,
Chaparral, NM 88081