Joan-Marie Lorraine Freni of Bedford passed away on July 7, 2023 at the age of 91. She will be remembered by her family and friends as a smart, gregarious, and loving person with strong values and an unwavering positive perspective on living life to its fullest.
Joan-Marie achieved success professionally while at the same time raising a family of six accomplished sons with her husband Charles of 66 years. Joan-Marie was a very beautiful person with a big smile, happy laugh, immaculate penmanship, and chic style. She was a very supportive, unselfish, loving and caring, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend. She was always there to share her love and positive wisdom to help you through the difficult times and celebrate your success.
Joan-Marie had a unique ability to help people always see a positive perspective. For decades she could be seen on the sidelines providing support for her son’s many sporting events, but she was more devoted to their success academically before the playing field.
She was an avid tennis player, regularly joining her friends on the court and for more than a decade, a fan attending the US Tennis Open. She was fluent in Italian enjoying trips to Italy and other parts of Europe with her husband.
Joan-Marie was born in Boston on June 13, 1932 to Hermine and Dominic Sandrelli. She was in the Class of 1949 from Christopher Columbus High School. She graduated from Emmanuel College in 1953 with a degree in Mathematics.
Joan-Marie worked in the Air Force Geophysics Lab at Hanscom Air Force Base doing scientific programming for Hughes STX, programing tactical decision aids for fighter jets, among other projects. She was featured in an episode of NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw in 1994 on retraining in the workforce. However, when Joan-Marie spoke about her greatest accomplishment, it was always raising her six sons.
Joan-Marie believed in the importance of community involvement, serving as a Trustee for the Bedford Public Library, Town Warrant for Elections and a member of the Bedford Garden Club. She was a long-time parishioner of Saint Michael Catholic Church of Bedford. She was an avid reader, bridge player and enjoyed swimming and traveling.
She leaves behind her husband Charles of 66 years, her brother Donald Sandrelli and her first cousin Joanne Coppola as well as her children; John Freni and wife Bridget, Charles Freni, Jr. and wife Elvia, Lawrence Freni and wife Paula, Gregory Freni and wife Tamara, Mark Freni and wife Lisa and Darryl Freni, six grandchildren and one great granddaughter.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, July 17 at St. Michael Church, 90 Concord Rd., Bedford. Burial will follow at Shawsheen Cemetery. Visiting hours will be from 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 16, at the Bedford Funeral Home, 167 Great Rd., Bedford.
Click here to read complete announcement.
Loading ...
