Joan Cosentino

OXFORD - Joan Poirier Cosentino, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, January 13, at the age of 55. She is survived by her devoted husband John of 28 years, and her children Evan Cosentino and his fiancée Desi Jones of Dallas, Texas, and Elaina Cosentino of Portland, Maine.

Joani is predeceased by her parents Paul Poirier and Helen (Tremblay) Poirier, who lived in Millbury. She is survived also by her beloved Boston Terrier Rambeau and her siblings Paul and Helen Poirier of Auburn, Ann Poirier of Oxford, and Rie Poirier-Campbell and Michael Campbell of Canton, Connecticut. She had numerous nieces and nephews who loved their Auntie Joani.

Joani was a gentle, grateful and enormously generous soul with a quiet grace and an unmistakable aura of kindness. She also had a wicked sense of humor. Her beautiful brown eyes had a mischievous snap of merriment and she loved to laugh to the point of silliness. While she never called attention to herself, her pride in her children knew no bounds. They always have been her greatest joy.

With an adventurous spirit, Joani traveled throughout Europe, Central America and the Caribbean, first as a student and later with her family. Boothbay Harbor, Maine, had a special place in her heart and she vacationed there every year with her family and friends. When at home, she enjoyed quiet nights curled up with Rambeau reading a good book or sharing a glass of wine with John in the sunroom that he built for her. With John, Rie and Michael, she bought the house she grew up in on Lake Singletary in Millbury, Massachusetts and spent countless weekends enjoying the water. A perfect day for her consisted of packing the family in the boat and cruising around the lake while looking for herons and eagles and planning the next trip.

Joani graduated from Our Lady of the Assumption School in Millbury and Holy Name Central Catholic High School in Worcester before earning her bachelor’s degree in sociology at Regis College in Weston. She had a varied career in retail, finance, education and human services. She worked for several years with her brother at the family business, Park Ave. True Value in Worcester. She also was a pre-kindergarten teacher at Saint Joseph School in Webster. Most recently, she was a loan manager for Easter Seals Massachusetts in Worcester, where she enjoyed helping disabled clients obtain assistive technology to make their lives easier and more productive.

Calling hours are 5pm-8pm on Thursday, January 17, at Paradis-Givner Funeral Home, 357 Main Street, Oxford. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10am on Saturday, January 19, at St. Mark’s Church, 356 Boston Road, Sutton. Burial immediately following will be at Notre Dame Cemetery, 162 Webster Street, Worcester.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Joani’s name may be made to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284-9168, or the Animal Welfare Society, P.O. Box 43, West Kennebunk, ME 04094-0043.