Mary Joan (Coleman) Faherty

Mary “Joan” Faherty (née Coleman) of Waltham and Allston, was born on June 20,1936 to Brigid Marie (née Hickey) of Killeagh, Co. Cork, and David John Coleman of Mallow, Co. Cork, Ireland. She was educated at St. Anthony’s in Allston and St. Columbkille in Brighton, where she took pride in her studies—especially Spanish and Latin—and played on the Girls’ Basketball team. After graduation, she worked for John Hancock Insurance. She spent many joyful years on Aldie Street in Allston with her sister Peggie, brother David, and her beloved Auntie Katie and her husband Con.

On September 4, 1958, Joan met the love of her life, Bartley Vincent Faherty of Killagoola, Moycullen, Co. Galway, at a dance at the Hibernian Hall on Dudley Street in Roxbury. Wednesday nights were date nights for the Irish, attending the Novena at Mission Church and bowling afterward with friends. She also enjoyed Irish step dancing with her sister Peggie and friend Eileen Lee; the trio winning a trip to New York City after competing on Community Auditions. Sundays were often spent watching Bartley play hurling at Dilboy Field before returning to her parents’ home for dinner.

After a brief engagement, Joan and Bartley married at St. Anthony’s Parish on June 25, 1960, and shared 58 joyful years together. They welcomed sons Tommy and Seán and daughter Joanne while living in her parents’ apartment in Allston. In 1965, they bought their first home in Waltham’s Lakeview neighborhood and completed their family with daughter Kathleen. Joan loved their Maravista home, especially her signature blue shutters and rose-covered trellis at the entrance. Her lifelong friend Ellie Teeven lived just a few doors away.

In 1970, with their growing family, they moved to a large farmhouse on Beaver Street in Waltham’s Warrendale neighborhood. They raised their children here and enjoyed a spacious yard filled with apple trees, a pear tree, and a grapevine. Joan, an avid gardener, recreated her beloved trellis and roses and cultivated a walkway lined with Tiger Lilies. In 1985, they sold the farmhouse and built a new ranch on the property, decorated in her signature Tiffany blue inside and out.

A devout Catholic, Joan attended the Novena at St. Jude’s Parish and volunteered as a room mother in her children’s schools. She also collected donations annually for the American Heart Association in memory of her cherished father. Once her youngest entered junior high, she returned to work, first for Waltham Public Schools and later at Brandeis University’s Summer Session Office—where Bartley eventually joined her as lead carpenter. Joan had a passion for theater and often attended performances at Brandeis. Though hardworking, she and Bartley never missed an Irish dance on Saturday nights or a summer vacation on Cape Cod. They honeymooned in Ireland and were blessed to be able to return many times to visit her extended family.

Joan was a loving grandmother to six beautiful grandchildren and one of her greatest joys was being able to care for the first few on Tuesday and Friday. Many happy summers were spent with her children and grandchildren at New Silver Beach in Falmouth and at celebrations for each of their accomplishments in life; christenings, communions, confirmations, graduations and a wedding.

As they neared retirement, they bought a home in Dunedin, FL, and built strong friendships within their gated community. While Bartley golfed and watched Monday Night Football, Joan enjoyed walking, riding her oversized tricycle, the pool, and playing Bingo with the ladies. Later, they moved into Avalon apartments in Lexington, MA, where Joan enjoyed similar activities. These two homes were dear to her, especially after Bartley’s passing in 2018, as neighbors in both communities embraced her with great kindness.

In 2021, Joan moved to Atria Senior Living in Marina Bay. Embracing her new community as "Mary" (she loved both of her names), she enjoyed the entertainment, the Rosary, and meals with new friends. Her sun-filled apartment allowed her to watch people walking dogs and jogging—a favorite daily pastime. She never stopped appreciating nature pointing out the changing seasons, blooming flowers, and the rustling of leaves in the wind.

On her 89th birthday, she celebrated briefly with family for a few hours before beginning her final journey to be reunited with her beloved Bartley, her parents, and treasured Auntie Katie in Heaven.

Mary Joan was predeceased by her loving husband of 58 years, Bartley; her parents, Marie and John; her sister Marguerite “Peggie”; and her Auntie Katie. She will be sadly missed by her sons Thomas (Karen) of Marlboro and Sean of Gardner, daughters Joanne Mahoney and her husband Byron of Peabody and Kathleen of Marina Bay, daughter-in law Ellen and grandchildren Ashley Mann and her husband Michael, Amanda and Alisha Faherty and Laura, Colin and Neal Mahoney, brother David (Kathy); sisters-in-law Annie, Bridie, Maisie, and brother-in-law Tommy (Antoinette), along with many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, great grandnephews, great grandnieces and extended family, great friends and neighbors in the US, Ireland, England and Australia.

She is also predeceased by her parents-in-law, Catherine (née O’Donnell) and Thomas Faherty; sisters-in-law Bridie, Julie, Maureen, and Peggy; brothers-in-law John, Paddy, Mícheál, Paddy, Neal, Peter, Jim, Frank, and Danny; nephews Danny, Michael, Jimmy, Tom and Tomás, nephew-in-law Brendan and grandnephew Richard.

Family and friends will honor and remember Mary Joan's life by gathering for an Afternoon Wake in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Sunday, June 29th from 2 to 5 p.m. and again at 10 a.m. on Monday morning before leaving in procession to Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Church, 880 Trapelo Road, Waltham where her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Brighton.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to ALK Positive or The Dion Foundation, two charities dedicated to finding cures for illnesses affecting members of her extended family.