Joan Allen

Joan Marie Allen, age 83, of Marblehead, formerly of Lexington and Stoneham, died Tuesday, October 5 at the Salem Hospital.

Born in Malden, MA on September 19, 1938, she was the daughter of the late Thomas and Mary (Elwood) Gilmartin.
Joan was raised in Stoneham, MA. She attended St. Patrick Elementary School and graduated from Stoneham High School where she was a cheerleader and a basketball player. She went onto secretarial school and subsequently started working at Boeing where she met her husband Tom. The two lived and raised their family in Lexington for 32 years before settling in Marblehead. Joan and her husband also enjoyed spending their summers in Ireland and later making multiple yearly trips there after their children were grown. A devout Roman Catholic, Joan was completely dedicated to her family. She raised her children with love and devotion.

Joan was predeceased by her beloved husband of 59 years, Thomas J. Allen. She was the loving mother of Dr. Thomas J. Allen, Jr. and his wife Fleur of South Carolina, Susan M. Golden and her husband Michael of Marblehead, and Máirín A. Friday and her husband Jason of Marshfield. She was the cherished "Nonie" of Éamonn, Declán, and Niamh Golden and Molly, Meg and Aislinn Friday. She was the sister of the late Thomas and Paul Gilmartin. She was the sister-in-law of John Allen of Newark, NJ, Muriel Gilmartin of Greenfield, MA, and Mary Gilmartin of Andover, MA. She is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.

Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Patrick Church, 71 Central St., Stoneham on Thursday, October 14 at 10am. Visitation for relatives and friends at the McDonald-Finnegan Funeral Home, 322 Main St., Stoneham on Wednesday from 4-7pm. Interment, St. Patrick Cemetery, Stoneham.

Per COVID-19 guidelines, masks are required in St. Patrick Church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Catholic Charities of Boston (www.ccab.org).

October 13, 2021
4:00 PM to 7:00 PM

McDonald - Finnegan Funeral Home
322 Main St.
Stoneham, MA 02180
(781) 438-0405

October 14, 2021
10:00 AM

St. Patrick Church
71 Central St.
Stoneham, MA 02180