Westborough – Josephine L. Nolan, 77, of Westborough, died Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012.
Born in Roxbury, a daughter of the late Joseph and Elizabeth MacPhee, she was raised by Daniel R. and Mary V. Keenan. She was a graduate of St. Patrick's High School, Roxbury, where she was a member of the perennial champion CYO Girls Basketball team.
She was married for 56 eventful years to James C. Nolan, also of Westborough, and traveled with him to homes in Walpole; Williamsport, Penn.; Lynn; Braintree; and retirement homes in Naples, Fla. and Little Pond, Prince Edward Island, Canada. She was fond of stating that her very first married home was a Quonset hut on Guam in the early days of her husband's 30-year Navy career.
A friendly and outgoing personality, she nevertheless avoided the limelight and found her pleasure in the solitary confines of knitting, sewing, crossword puzzles and murder mysteries, especially Murder She Wrote.
She was the mother of Mary Elaine Bernier and Paul of Upton, William J. and Kerin Nolan of Weymouth, Daniel R. and Lauren Nolan of Scituate, Kathleen M, (deceased), Neil A. and Coleen Nolan of Harwich, and James C. Nolan of Austin, Texas. Her greatest delight was in the visits she shared with her 11 grandchildren, especially those visits which took place in her summer home on Prince Edward Island where card games could take place from morning to night.
She was a faithful, but quiet backup singer to her husband's piano playing for over 60 years.
She is survived by sisters Jacqueline Norman of Daly City, Ca. and Anne Fitzgerald of Pinellas Park, Fla. and brother James MacPhee of Dennis. She was predeceased by her brother Joseph and sisters Theresa and Joan.
Her funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday, Sept. 1, at 10:00 a.m., in St. Luke the Evangelist Church, 70 West Main St., Westborough. Burial will be held privately in Blue Hill Cemetery, Braintree. Calling hours at the Rand-Harper-Pickering Westborough Funeral Home, 62 West Main St., are Friday, Aug. 31, from 4 to 7 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the United Way of Central Massachusetts, Suite 300, 484 Main St., Worcester, MA 01608.
