Jo Ann M. (Healy) Potter

Jo Ann M. Potter (Healy), lifelong resident of Quincy and part time resident of Brewster, MA passed on January 5, 2021 after a period of failing health.  Born in Boston, Jo Ann graduated from Quincy High School and attended Quincy Junior College.  She worked for The Bargain Center, Howard D. Johnson Co. and then later was actively employed for 30 years for the Quincy Public Schools in a variety of capacities to include a Para-Professional for Special Needs students, Secretary and Lunch Mother. 

Jo Ann spent much of her time volunteering for various organizations.  She was a member of the Wollaston Mother’s Club and Quincy Retiree’s Association.  She volunteered at Interfaith Social Services, Italian Greyhound Rescue, Norfolk County Human Services working with Special Needs Adults, QATV and served on many school PTO’s.  She was a founding member of the Friends of QHS, being awarded the “Best of the Best” in 1995 for her commitment and dedication, including spearheading the renovation of the Method Center into the Lloyd H. Hill Auditorium.

Beloved wife of William Z. Potter, mother of Jacqueline Lemoine of Merritt Island, FL, and Christopher Potter of Weymouth, MA and her rescue dog Sherman.  Cherished “Gram” to Stephanie and Caleb Lemoine (Merritt Island, FL), Sister of Dorothy H. Healy (Wollaston) and the late Joseph H. Healy, Jr. (Revere).   She was the daughter of the late Joseph H. and Dorothy H. Healy (Seely).  Also survived by her Aunt Margorie C. Briggs of MD any many cousins, nieces and nephews.

At the request of Jo Ann, in lieu of flowers donations can be made to the East Coast Italian Greyhound Rescue, c/o Chris Potter, 33 Moreland Rd, Weymouth, MA  02191.

The family would like to thank all of the doctors, nurses and staff at South Shore Hospital, New England Sinai Hospital and Hancock Park who cared for Jo Ann with compassion and love.  You truly are all “HEROS”. Jo Ann's family and friends described her as being a very "colorful person". They request that when attending her visiting hours or funeral services you wear colorful clothing.

Visiting hours will be held at the Alfred D. Thomas Funeral Home, Milton, Sunday, January 10 th from 2-5 pm.  Due to Covid 19  restrictions  only 10 people will be allowed at a  in the Funeral Home. Masks must be worn and please bring your own pen to sign the guest book. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. John the Baptist Church on Monday, January 11th at 10 am. Burial will follow in Mt. Wollaston Cemetery. 

Eulogy written and read by granddaughter Stephanie Lemoine

Hello everyone. For those who don’t know me or haven’t seen me in a while, I am Stephanie, JoAnn’s granddaughter, but I like to refer to her as Gram. Instead of reading a passage from the bible I wanted to do something different and write this about the things that made Gram who she is and what I remember most. First off, she is an amazing wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, and friend. She lights up every room she walks into with her contagious laugh and incredibly dark and inappropriate humor. I love how I can never tell the difference between her laugh and her cry. The best part is that once she starts, she can’t stop so you are sitting there for 5 minutes waiting for her to say her next sentence. She gives the best back scratches whenever I spend the night and we always say our prayers before we fall asleep. That is actually my favorite part of staying over; that and the ice cream she would offer to me every night. We wake up the next morning and she has to drag me out of bed to go to church, because I am not a morning person.

When talking on the phone, before this pandemic happened and everyone’s lives changed, she always asks me if I have a book report due in class. It makes me laugh every time because I stopped doing book reports in 4th grade but I don’t think she gets the memo. The other thing I like when talking with her is that she will always ask about my best friend, Jackie. She makes sure that she is doing well, she asks about her boyfriend Noah as well, and she checks to see if she is still doing her passion which is tap dancing. Gram genuinely cares about Jackie because she knows that she is important to me. That is just the kind of person my grandmother is. Looking out for everyone, wearing a different broche to every occasion, and constantly giving off a vivacious energy. What she has gone through, is not easy. It is hard, painful, and agonizing not being able to see her family everyday. However, she never lets what's happening to her determine who she is or her level of strength. She continues pushing through it all; her speech and movement all with a smile and laughter. My grandmother is in a better place and it is her time to join the Lord in heaven. “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43

Notice how I have talked in the present tense about my grandmother throughout. This is because she is not gone. Her body has passed, yes, but her soul, spirit, mind, and everything else that makes up who she is continues to live, vibrantly I may add. May she live on in all of us and may we carry her spirit through generations to bring the light that she holds upon everyone we meet . Thank you.

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