Joan Lillian (St. Godard) Proulx

Joan Lillian (St. Godard) Proulx, aged 84, of Taunton passed away on December 20, 2021, after a lengthy illness.  Joan was born in 1937 in Pawtucket, RI, the daughter of Eugene N. and Lillian H. St. Godard.  She graduated from Pawtucket West High School in 1954 where she played multiple sports, including basketball where her team won the RI CYO basketball championship.  She continued her education at Bryant College where she received a full academic scholarship from the School of Business Teacher Training, was president of the Kappa Delta Kappa sorority and served as the athletic director. She went on to complete her schooling in 1962 with a Master’s in Education from Bridgewater State College.

Joan taught Business at Mansfield High School for 23 years, retiring in 1999.  As the Business Department Chairperson, she was early and instrumental in the introduction of computers in the classroom. Her trailblazing in this area provided her students with a lifetime foundation for success.  Prior to Mansfield, she taught at Norton High School in the early 1960’s and as a Financial Officer at the SE Regional Planning and Economic District.  Joan truly valued education and was a life-long learner herself.

During her teenage years, she would summer with her friend Shirly Rene at Lake Sabbatia in Taunton, MA.  It was at a local baseball game in 1954 where she first met the person with whom she would be inseparable from for the next 67 years of their lives.  Joan and Roger Proulx married in 1959 and settled in Taunton where they raised their two children, Elizabeth (Proulx) Lewis and Roger Proulx, Jr.

Once they retired, Joan and Roger bought a small RV and could often be found supporting their grandchildren at their youth sports games.  They also took the opportunity to travel, spending time in Florida with friends from Rhode Island.  Joan always enjoyed playing cards and joined competitive whist and bridge leagues in the area, organizing and running several leagues herself.  Joan was a voracious reader and could always be counted on for a book recommendation.  She also knitted, crocheted and maintained her flower garden.

She is survived by her husband Roger and children Elizabeth and Roger Jr.  She also leaves her son-in-law David Lewis, daughter-in-law Shay Proulx, grandchildren Kara, Matthew, Ryan and Christopher and brother Eugene St. Godard (deceased).

Services are private but the family will host a celebration of life when it can be done safely. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to the Friends of the Taunton Public Library, 12 Pleasant Street, Taunton, MA 02780.

Arrangements entrusted to Riendeau-Mulvey Funeral Home, 467 Bay St., Taunton, MA.

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