Joan Burnett, 90, passed away peacefully while surrounded by family on March 28, 2026 after a brief illness. Joan grew up in Massachusetts and was married to her best friend, Harold "Tilly" Burnett. Together, they raised four children who went on to have families of their own. Joan had a strong work ethic and spent many years working, whether it was babysitting, sewing at a pants factory, cleaning houses, working at the infirmary at UMass and housekeeping at UMass. Joan had the opportunity to travel and visited places like Germany, France, Hawaii and Las Vegas. She loved her sports and was an avid Nascar fan - especially of Jeff Gordon and Chase Elliot. Her other love of sports were specific to UMass basketball, the New England Patriots, and the Boston Red Sox and Celtics. During retirement, in addition to spending time with her family and grandchildren, she loved her bingo and playing cards with all of her friends. Joan grew up in a large family having five siblings: Robert Carey and wife Sylvia, Jean (Carey) Sweeney, Karen (Carey) Fairman, Kathy (Carey) Boron and husband David and Ricky Carey. Joan was predeceased by her parents, William and Evelyn Carey, and her beloved husband Harold. She is survived by her siblings, as well as her children: Harold "Zeke" Burnett Jr., Marilyn "Susie" (Burnett) Canon and husband Jim, Mark Burnett and wife Sherri-Ann and Kara (Burnett) Swan and Jeff Matosky, as well as her 10 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
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