Joanne McGuirk

Beloved Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Daughter, Sister and Friend

Joanne (Ethier) McGuirk, 77, died June 20, 2024 at home peacefully from natural causes.

Joanne was pre-deceased by her husband of 52 years, Michael McGuirk, and her brother, William Ethier. She leaves one son, Shawn M. McGuirk; one daughter, Catherine "Katie" McGuirk-Schultz and her husband James Schultz, all of Fitchburg; five grandchildren: Ian, Lily, and Christopher McGuirk, and Tyler and Amanda Schultz; a sister, Nancy Sheppard; sisters-in-law Betty McGuirk and Sandra Ethier, and many nieces and nephews.

Joanne was born in Fitchburg on November 2, 1946, a daughter of the late Raymond and Catherine Ethier. She graduated from St. Bernard's High School and earned a degree from the Chandler School for Women in Boston. She worked for the City of Fitchburg in the school system, and for many years at the Fitchburg Public Library.

Joanne loved her family, never being afraid to say “I love you” every morning and evening before bedtime. She cared for and loved her children, grandchildren, siblings, other family members, and friends deeply. 

She was an avid New England sports fan, watching the local teams and rooting for them consistently and passionately. She loved being outdoors tending to her garden. She had the ability to make people smile, and she had the gift of being present with others so that they felt like in that moment they were the only person in the world. Joanne was the sweetest, kindest person anyone ever met.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Catholic TV, PO Box 9196, 34 Chestnut Street Watertown, MA 02471, or at www.catholictv.org/donate, in Joanne's memory. 

Family and friends will gather to honor and remember Joanne for a period of visitation on Friday, June 28, 2024, from 5:00pm until 7:00pm at Brandon Funeral Home. A mass will take place on Saturday, June 29, 2024, at 10:00am at Our Lady of The Lake Church, 1400 Main St. Leominster, MA. Burial will take place at St. Bernard Cemetery, 96 Goodrich St. Fitchburg, MA, following mass. 

Arrangements are under the care of Brandon Funeral Home.

Kevin J. Mack, Walter C. Taylor, Melissa A. McQuaid, Funeral Directors.