Published August 7, 2020
WAKEFIELD — Joan F. (Manganaro) Grover of Wakefield, formerly of Melrose, passed away surrounded by her loving family at home on August 1, 2020.
Born in Everett, on December 6, 1931 to John and Caroline Manganaro, she was a resident of Melrose for 78 years forming lifelong friendships in her family home on Rockwood Street before moving to Wakefield 10 years ago. She enjoyed playing cards, entertaining the neighborhood and feeding everyone, hungry or not. Her passion was cooking and feeding people and she excelled at it.
Joan now joins the love of her life, the late James E. Grover, with whom she shared 60 years of marriage. She was the loving mother of Robert Grover and his wife Donna of Melrose and Carolyn Cohan and her husband David of Wakefield; and the cherished grandmother of Michael Grover and his wife Sandra of Wakefield and Lisa Grover and her husband Robert Ford of Stoneham. She adored being the great-grandmother “Gee Gee” to her five great-grandsons James, Nathan, Thomas, Brady and Danny. Joan is also survived by her brother John “Nick” Manganaro and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation at the Gately Funeral Home on August 7 will be private. Her funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Mary’s Church (corner of Myrtle and Herbert St.) Melrose on August 7. Relatives and friends were respectfully invited to attend. The burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Joan’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105. To leave an online message of condolence please visit gatelyfh.com.
