Joan (Kerrigan) McAloon of Brockton, 78, a former nurse, home health care supervisor and homemaker, died of natural causes at Colonial Rehabilitation & Nursing Center, Weymouth, after several years of declining health. Born in Taunton, she was educated at St. Marys School and graduated from St. Marys High School in 1950, serving as the president of her class. She went on to attend St. Annes Hospital School of Nursing in Fall River, where she again served as president of her graduating class before earning her registered nurse degree in 1954 and going to work as a nurse at St. Annes Hospital. Later that year, she settled in Taunton, married Robert L. McAloon of Taunton and started a family. She moved to Camp LeJeune in North Carolina after her husband enlisted in the Marine Corps, and raised a family of five there as well as in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and Pittsburgh, before settling in Brockton in 1964. She became deeply involved in the affairs of St. Margarets Catholic Church, Brockton, singing in its folk Mass and volunteering in various parish activities including its religious education program. She made Cursillo and became a regular presence during the 1970s at the Holy Cross Retreat House at Stonehill College, Easton. After raising her children, she went to work as a home health aide and supervisor for Catholic Charities of Brockton for many years. She loved music and singing, family brunches, butterflies and spending time with her 10 grandchildren. She is survived by her five children and their spouses, Kathleen M. Convey and husband Kevin R. Convey of Brockton, Timothy P. and wife Barbara Isola of Quincy, Matthew F. and wife Laura McLean of Weymouth, Michael J. and wife Lynn of Cantwell, Alaska, Daniel R. and wife Michelle of Newtown, Conn.; two brothers, Jack Kerrigan of Braintree and Joseph Kerrigan of Taunton; a sister, Ann Bush of Bluffton, S.C.; and her former husband, Robert L. McAloon of Mashpee; 10 grandchildren, Robert and Catherine of Quincy, Eamon and Mairead of Brockton, Jessica, Patrick and Jonathan of Weymouth, and Logan, Owen and Cole of Newtown, Conn.; and many nieces and nephews. Mrs. McAloon will be waked at Lydon Chapel for Funerals, Quincy, Friday, Jan. 21, from 5 to 8 p.m. A Mass of Christian burial will follow on Saturday at 10 a.m. at St. Anns Parish Church, 757 Hancock St., Quincy, with burial to follow in St. Josephs Cemetery, Taunton. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Catholic Charities South, 157 Centre St., Brockton, MA 02302. For directions and online condolences, please visit lydonchapelforfunerals.com.


Published in The Patriot Ledger on January 20, 2011