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Joan Monahan McFalls, 82

LENOX, Mass. — Joan Monahan McFalls died on Thursday, August 25, 2016, in Lenox.

Born June 2, 1934 in New York City in the Borough of Queens, Joan grew up in Bayside and attended local schools there, later graduating from Chatham University in Pittsburgh, Pa. Daughter of Joseph and Bertha Monahan, both of Pittsburgh, she was brought up in the presence of a large family of relatives of both her parents, who provided her with many fond recollections.

After her marriage, she began a teaching career in Texas in a school for the children of families at Fort Sam Houston in Dan Antonio, and later in Lancaster, Pa. After Joan came to Pittsfield in 1958, she taught in the former Dawes School. Then, after raising her family she began another career, joining the Berkshire Life Insurance Company in Pittsfield (Now Guardian). Beginning on the clerical staff, she advanced to become the first female Director of Human Resources, a position she held for 25 years, retiring in 1999. In order to provide help for her company's employees with small children, Joan established one of the first company-subsidized day care centers in the county, which operated for several years.

After retirement she served until recently as a director of the Berkshire Life Foundation, visiting and interviewing many charitable and socially oriented organizations seeking assistance, and recommending contributions. Joan's great interest was helping to support the work of Berkshire County organizations that sustained the people and communities in the area. Throughout the course of her life she served on many advisory and fund-raising committees and boards of non-profit groups, including Berkshire United Way, The Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center and The Berkshire Music School. Joan was also a member Junior League, and was a past president. She particularly enjoyed her past association with the western division of the Trustees of Reservations. For most of the years since its construction, she was treasurer of Birchwood Village Townhouses Association, a challenging post. Over the span of two decades, Joan served on the Board of Directors of Berkshire Health Systems, heading committees in the field of community assistance and other programs. She was also a member of the board at Kimball Farms Retirement Center for several years.

Joan was an enthusiastic alumna of Chatham University, attending her class reunions, and supporting the progress of the school as it has advanced. However, it was the parish of St. Stephen's church that claimed a spot very close to Joan's heart. A member since her earliest days in Pittsfield, she cherished her association with the church and the many people there that she came to know and work with over the years, and who contributed so much to her life. Up until only a few weeks ago, and almost every morning for the past few years, Joan followed a route she believed to be one of the most scenic in the county from her home to the Berkshire South Regional Community Center in Great Barrington, where she looked forward to the pool exercise program with her friends there.

Joan is survived by her son Timothy of West Grove, Pa., and his daughter Morgan; her daughter Jennifer of Pittsfield and her children, Sarah, Tasha, Amanda and Joshua; great-grandchildren Lylah and Landon; and her companion of many years, Robert Hartford.

Funeral notice: Funeral services for Joan M. McFalls, 82, who died August 25, 2016, will be held Wednesday, August 31, at 10 a.m. at St. Stephens Episcopal Church, 67 East St., in Pittsfield. Burial will be private and at the convenience of the family. There are no calling hours. The family will greet friends in the church parlor immediately following the Funeral Service. In lieu of flowers, donations in Joan's memory can be made to St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in care of Dery Funeral Home, 54 Bradford St., Pittsfield, which is handling arrangements.

 


Obituary Provided By: Dery Funeral Home

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