16 October, 2017
HOPKINTON – Joan Mary Archer, 82, passed away in Milford Regional Hospital on October 8, 2017, after a tremendous fight to survive. She was the wife of John Archer to whom she was married for 48 years. Born in Bethlehem, PA, she was the daughter of the late Alexander and Leona (Kartz) Harvey and the stepdaughter of the late Albert Parenti.
In addition to her husband, she leaves her daughter Megan Archer and grandson Julian Coleman of Portland Oregon, her brothers-in-law James Archer, Thomas Archer and Ray Cossey and sister-in-law Theresa Cossey, all of the UK, and her cousin Barbara Hahn of Bethlehem PA.
Joan’s life touched everyone she met – every person who met her gained from her in in some way, and everyone will miss her straightforwardness and sense of humor. She always told it like it was, without fear of any comeback.
She was an artist who started at the age of five in Bethlehem Pennsylvania, and gained a BA in Commercial Art at Moore School of Art, Philadelphia, in 1959. She became a freelance commercial artist for companies in Philadelphia, New York City, Cincinnati, and also taught art in England.
She also performed all the finishing at Furniture Fayre of Uxbridge, a custom furniture business owned by her husband John and herself.
The funeral will be held Tuesday, October 24 at 9:30 a.m. from the Callanan Cronin Funeral Home, 34 Church Street. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. in St. John the Evangelist Church, 20 Church Street, Hopkinton. Burial will follow in Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Hopkinton. Calling hours at the funeral home are Monday, October 23 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
She would love flowers or donations at the funeral, and donations in memory of Joan should be sent to B.O.N.E.S (Beagles Of New England States) at www.bonesbeagles.org – her Beagle Denver is also sharing the grief of many people, including her husband forever, John.
