Of Sandwich formerly of Waltham, passed away peacefully Wednesday morning January 24th, 2018 at the age of 78.

Born in 1939 in Waltham; daughter of the late Onofrio and Elizabeth (Emmanuele) Beninati, Joanne was raised and educated in Waltham and spent most of her life here while spending the summers on Cape Cod since 1991. Fourteen years ago Joanne moved to the Cape permanently.

Joanne graduated from Waltham High School in 1957; she began working for the Sandborn Corporation later acquired by Hewlett Packard. In 1968 she began working at Brandeis University in Benefits Administration, and retired after 35 years of service to many faculty and staff.

She was active in her children's lives and always there for her family. She served on the school P.T.O., as a Cub Scout leader, and as a member of the WHS Band Parents. Joanne had a strong faith in her God and had been an active & devoted parishioner of Sacred Heart Parish in Waltham. She was a member of the Sacred Heart Holy Rosary Guild, and had been a lector for many years.

Joanne continued to help others after moving to Sandwich, working as a Tourism Guide for the Cape Cod Canal Region Chamber of Commerce. She also volunteered as a SHINE (Serving the Health Information Needs of Everyone) Counselor for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and at the Sandwich Council on Aging.

She had a love for the ocean and beach, she enjoyed traveling, playing cards, and being with friends, but nothing was more important to Joanne than spending time with her family—especially her grandchildren.

Joanne is survived by her devoted & loving children Diane Earley and her husband Roy of Chelmsford, William Heatley of Boxborough, Michael Heatley of Concord, New Hampshire, and Christine Donahue and her husband Edward of Alexandria, Virginia, her cherished grandchildren Matthew, Alexander, Kyle, Cameron, Jillian, Jonathan, Elisabeth, and Andrew, her dear sister and best friend Angelina Simeone of Waltham, and nephews James, John, David, niece Ann, and their families.

Relatives & Friends are respectfully invited to attend Funeral Services from the Brasco & Sons Memorial Funeral Home, 773 Moody St., WALTHAM on Monday morning Jan. 29th at 9:00 a.m. with a Mass of Christian Burial in celebration of Joanne’s Life at Sacred Heart Church, 311 River St., Waltham at 10:00 a.m. Visiting Hours will be held in the Funeral Home on Sunday Jan. 28th from 2 – 6 p.m. Parking attendants on duty.

Throughout her life, Joanne believed in the importance of giving to others. Therefore, expressions of sympathy may be made in her memory to the charity of your choice.