Joan Marie George

Joan Marie (Souza) George, 91, of Danvers, passed away peacefully on April 1, 2026, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Born in Fall River, Mass., she was the daughter of the late Antone J. Souza and Louise (Jennings) Souza. She was the beloved wife of the late John L. George, with whom she shared 40 years of marriage, who predeceased her in 1999.

Joan grew up in a six-tenement, cold-water flat in Fall River. She was a graduate of B.M.C. Durfee High School, Class of 1952, then earned her B.S. in Education at Salem Teachers College (now Salem State University), Class of 1956. Living at the Woman’s Friend Society’s Emmerton House, and holding multiple jobs, she excelled in school and was Valedictorian of her college class. She taught high school in Swansea, Mass., and Hamden, Conn., before moving to Danvers, her husband John’s hometown, in 1959. She raised a family at their home on Water Street, and was deeply involved in the community, including serving 39 years as a Danvers Town Meeting member, and was also a member of the Danvers River Committee, the Danvers Historical Society, Danvers Garden Club, and the Danvers Democratic Town Committee. She was a member of St. Vasilios Greek Orthodox Church in Peabody, where she and John were married.

In the 1980s, Joan returned to work and after teaching evening school, opened her own real estate firm, Joan George Realty, Inc. Joan found great success in real estate, and always ensured that her clients experienced the American dream of home ownership. She and her husband John traveled extensively while she was working in real estate, and eventually she retired in the late 1990s. After her husband’s passing, Joan did not sit still, and she engaged in many activities with friends and family, and honored John’s legacy by caring for the flowers at John L. George Park in Danvers, and endowing the John L. George Memorial Scholarship at Salem State University. She had varied interests including swimming at the Salem YMCA, and was an accomplished gardener, cook, watercolor artist, and poet. She enjoyed spending time with her family, be it traveling to Aruba and other destinations with her daughter Julie, enjoying Lobsterfest at Lynch Park with her daughter Nancy and her family, or traveling to South Africa on her 80th birthday with her son Louis and his wife Ellen. Until her final days, she was “still Joan,” as she always brought joy and laughter to everyone she met.

Joan is survived by her daughters, Julie A. George of Danvers, and Nancy L. George and her husband Barry Swindell, of Beverly, and her son Louis J. George and his wife Ellen Dempsey, of Danvers. She is also survived by four grandchildren, Michael Caruso, Anthony Caruso and his wife Samantha, Matthew Swindell, and Laura Swindell, and a great-granddaughter, Isabella. She also leaves her brother, James Souza, and his wife Carol, of California, and numerous nephews and nieces. She was the sister of the late Nancy Souza, of Fall River, Mass. She leaves behind many close friends.

Joan’s family would like to extend thanks to the staff at Brightview Assisted Living, Wellspring Village in Danvers, Mass. for their caring and friendship.

Joan’s funeral service will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 8, at C.R. Lyons & Sons Funeral Directors, 28 Elm Street, Danvers, Mass. Visiting hours will held at the funeral home from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7. Burial will be at Walnut Grove Cemetery, Danvers, Mass. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Joan’s memory to the Dr. John L. George Memorial Scholarship Fund, Salem State University, 352 Lafayette Street, Salem, MA 01970, the Danvers Council on Aging, 25 Stone Street, Danvers, MA 01923, or the Woman’s Friend Society, 12 Hawthorne Blvd., Salem, MA 01970. Online Directions and condolences are available at www.LyonsFuneral.com