Mary Joan Carroll, known to friends and family as Joann, passed away peacefully at her home in Cambridge, MA after a brief illness, she was 97 years old. Joann grew up in Cape Elizabeth, Maine with her parents, Dr. Eugene Edward O’Donnell and Mrs. Anne Topolosky O’Donnell, and her Sister Elizabeth Anne Barbera (O’Donnell).

After graduating from Smith College, she entered the workforce, where she would remain full-time until her retirement. Most notable was her two decades of service to Simmons College, where, as a member of the faculty, she was Director of Placement Services. While commonplace today, her actions within her career were part of a generation of women who created an acknowledged place for women in the workplace. This led to the social acceptance of the working-mother, and the modern understanding of the work/life balance.

After marrying Richard Sutcliffe Carroll of Salem, MA, the couple moved to Baltimore and then to Manhattan, where her first child, Jonathan Sleight Carroll was born. Returning to Boston in the early 1960s, it is in Beacon Hill that, after the tragic loss of Jonathan to childhood illness, they created a home, raised their second child, Christopher, and lived happily for more than forty years.

Joann’s affiliations included The Harvard Club of Boston, The Saint Botolph Club, The Badminton & Tennis Club, Longwood Cricket Club, The Longwood Covered Courts, The Boston Atheneum, The Nichol’s House Museum, and The Gardiner Museum. She served as docent at both aforementioned museums in her retirement.

She is predeceased by her parents, her sister Betsy, her son, Jonathan, and her husband Richard of 52 years.

Joann is survived by her son, Christopher Rysam Carroll, her daughter-in-law, Anne Kerper Monnelly Carroll, and her two grandchildren, Alexander Monnelly Carroll and Anna Darling Carroll, all of Ipswich, MA.

In addition, Joann is survived by 10 nieces and nephews, including: Alexandra Guild and her husband Ned of Plymouth, MA; Dr. David Evans and his wife Jennifer of Greenwich, CT; Mark Evans of Canton ; Jennifer Lussier and her husband Mark of Salem, MA; Susan Evans of Cambridge MA; Paul Barbera of Yarmouth, ME; Gene Barbera and his wife Marta of New Canaan, CT; Peter Barbera and his wife Meg of Yarmouth, ME; Anne Barbera Day and her husband Richard of Portland, ME; and Tim Barbera and his wife Alisa of Melrose, MA.