Joan Louise Terry, 80, of
Ipswich, died peacefully under Hospice care, April 16, 2011,
surrounded by family at her loving daughter’s home in Salem, after a
brief illness.
Born in Brooklyn, NY on
April 20, 1930 the daughter of William and Erna
(Linke) Muhlhausen,
the family moved to Far Rockaway, NY where Joan enjoyed a happy
childhood. Married to Fredrick L. Terry in 1951, they were the
parents of three daughters. In the late 1950’s, they moved to Minoa,
NY where they bought their first home. In 1964 they moved to
Marblehead, and in 1999 retired to Ipswich.
Joan and Fred were active
members of St. Stephen’s United Methodist Church where they sang in
the choir, helped guide the Youth Fellowship Group and participated
in many church fairs, dinners and fund raisers. They loved dancing
with the Riverside Squares and began Harbor Town Teens, a square
dancing club that Marblehead youths enjoyed for many of years.
Together they opened their home to others in need of support and
friendship. They enjoyed being a host family to exchange students
from Sweden, Germany, and the Netherlands, and welcomed guests from
the Men’s Choir of Cornwall, England, and Inner City children from
Boston. In Ipswich, they joined the First Church and continued their
love of music as members of the choir. They were active on many
boards and continually supported the church’s endeavors. In
retirement Joan and Fred developed many friendships through their
involvement as members and officers of NARFE of the North Shore.
Throughout her life Joan
worked in retail, real estate and enjoyed her association with the
Abbott Public Library and the Ipswich Public Library, where she was
able to promote her love of reading. She enjoyed classical music and
had a great appreciation for quilting and colorful artworks. She was
a caring and supportive friend and mother, she was full of creative
ideas and advice to share. She will be deeply missed.
Joan is survived by her
beloved husband of sixty years, Fredrick, their daughters, Ellen
Terry of Marblehead, Susan and her husband David Warner of Ipswich,
and Lisa Sinatra of Salem. She leaves a cherished grandson, William
Sinatra and his wife Akane of
Marblehead. She was the devoted sister of Betty Kent
Lautner of Marblehead, loving aunt of
Joseph Lautner and his wife Lauren of
Marblehead and Kristin Bradley and her husband Stephen of
Sturbridge. Her great-nephews Wilson, Jed, and Rudy
Lautner of Marblehead, along with her
great niece and nephew, Olivia and Owen Bradley of Sturbridge, all
brought her much joy.
Memorial services will be
held at the First Church in Ipswich on Sunday, May 22 at 3pm.
Friends and family are respectfully
invited. A memorial service will also be held at St. Stephens
United Methodist Church in Marblehead at a future date. Arrangements
are under the direction of the Whittier-Porter Funeral Home of
Ipswich.
Memorial contributions in
her name may be made to The First Church, Pipe Organ Fund, 1
Meetinghouse Green, Ipswich, MA 01938, or to The Friends of The
Ipswich Public Library, Box 157, Ipswich or The Ipswich Council on
Aging, 25 Green Street, Ipswich.
