Joan O'Brien

Beverly Joan O’Brien, 85, of Marysville, passed from this life on Dec. 14, 2018, surrounded by loving family. She was a woman of deep faith and love for our Savior Jesus.

Joan was born on May 22, 1933 in Port Huron to Floyd and Clara Sheldon. She was a graduate from Port Huron High School and completed two degrees at St. Clair County Community College. Joan married her love and best friend, John O’Brien, on June 19, 1954 and they were blessed with more than 63 years together.

Joan loved her family, friends, and community. She showed this love in many ways: by her sweet care for her husband, children and grandchildren, by her generous spirit, by her silly sense of humor, by her encouragement and wisdom, in her wide circle of friends, and by her community volunteerism.

She was a long-time member of Holy Trinity Parish and always looked forward to coffee hour with friends. She was a founding member of Child Study Club, a member of the Ottawa Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, participated in a Bible study group, and helped organize all her high school class reunions. She worked several secretarial jobs, with most of her career at the St. Clair County Court system. She volunteered as a classroom mother, a PTA officer, a Sunday school teacher, a Camp Fire Girls troop leader, a Cub Scout den mother, a Eucharistic minister, a Mercy Hospital Auxiliary volunteer, initiated and staffed the nursery at the Newman Center, and volunteered for Blue Water Habitat for Humanity. She loved to bake and shared her treats with everyone. She was an avid reader, and enjoyed knitting, sewing and embroidery. She shared her love of music with her family, singing while driving and washing dishes.

It was a life well-lived and she will be dearly missed by her husband, John O’Brien; children and spouses: Julie and Brian Sullivan, Patty and Jeff Troy, David and Joyce O’Brien, Dan and Luz O’Brien and daughter-in-law Donna Swarbrick; grandchildren (and spouses): Tim (Kelly) Troy, Shelly (Marcus Schmidt) Sullivan, Fr. Jeremy (Allison) Troy, Brian Sullivan, Kristen (Brandon) Boxberger, Jordy, Arron, Cameron, Donavan and Charlie O’Brien; three great-grandsons: Brendan, Parker and Jonathon; sister-in-law Marian O’Brien, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her son John, her parents, sister Jean Webb, brother-in-law Frank O’Brien, and sisters-in-law Mary Zambelli and Barb Harrison.

Visitation will be 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday in the Karrer-Simpson Funeral Home. A Scripture service will be held at 6 p.m.

Joan will lie in state on Thursday, December 20, 2018 in Holy Trinity Parish - St. Stephen Catholic Church from 10 a.m. until the Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. The Very Reverend Salvatore Palazzolo, K.H.S. will officiate.

Burial will be in Lakeside Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Holy Trinity Parish.