Obituary of Josephine M. (McKinnon) Ward

Josephine M. (McKinnon) Ward, 91, of Peabody, died Tuesday evening at the Beverly Hospital after a brief illness. She was the wife of the late James Ward. She was born in Beverly, MA on March 7, 1917, the daughter of the late Murdock and Priscilla (Morrison) McKinnon and had resided in Peabody for over fifty years. She spent her childhood and teen years on Prince Edward Island, Canada since her mother had died at childbirth. She was raised by her loving Aunt Janie and Aunt Sue along with many other Caring family members. She returned to Beverly, MA after graduating from St. Dunson’s Teachers School in PEI and resided with her sister and brother-in-law, the late Gertrude and Larry Sanphy of Beverly Farms. She was first employed at the General Electric Co. in Lynn during WW 11. Later she spent her career working in Jewelry Sales at Filene’s Department Store at the North Shore Shopping Center for 20 years. She also worked as a waitress at the former Wagon Wheels and the Sauntaug Restaurants in Peabody for many years. She was an active member of St. John the Baptist Church, Peabody and for many years was the Vice President of the Ladies Sodality. She served as an Eucharistic Minister and was a member of the St. John’s Prayer group. She enjoyed dancing and went with her husband every Saturday to dances on the North Shore. She was an avid Sports Fan with the Boston teams and liked to play cards. She is survived by a son, John “Jack” Ward of Peabody, a daughter and son-in-law, Mary Lou and Douglas Knight of Lexington, her five grandchildren and their spouses, Paul McKnight and Tanya Frank of Milton, Christopher Ward and Aimee Bittinger of Seattle, WA, James Knight and Katie Knight both of Lexington and Joanne and Edgar Craig of Peabody, two great grandchildren, Malcolm and Celia Frank-McKnight of Milton and several nieces and nephews. She was the last surviving member of the McKinnon Family that included Catherine Shea, Mary Gillis, Gertrude Sanphy, Flora Courtney, William McKinnon and Susie Sanphy. A visitation will be held on Thursday from 4:00 until 8:00 PM at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home at the 20 Church St., Peabody (downtown) facility. Her Funeral will be held on Friday at 10:00 AM from the Funeral home followed by a Funeral Mass in St. John’s Church, Peabody at 11:00 AM. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Beverly. Expressions of sympathy may be given to her godson’ charity, Rev. Joseph Shea stationed in Madagascar, to the La Sallette Mission Center, 4650 So. Broadway, St. Louis, MO 63112.