Joan M. (Coutts) Comeau, 88, of Seabrook Beach, N.H., wife of the late Gustave L. Comeau, passed away Wednesday, April 27, at Hannah Duston Healthcare Center, Haverhill, surrounded by her family.
Born in Somerville, she was the daughter of the late Hector S. and Abigail F. (Fitzgerald) Coutts. After losing her parents at a young age she was raised in Arlington by her aunt and uncle, John S. and Mary (Fitzgerald) Burns. She was a graduate of St. John’s High School in North Cambridge, class of 1946. After the conclusion of World War II, she met the love of her life, Gus Comeau, ballroom dancing at the Casino Ballroom in Hampton Beach, N.H. In 1951 they married and settled in Haverhill where they raised their four children. Beginning her career at a young age she worked as a medical transcriber at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, and upon her relocating to Haverhill after her marriage she worked at the former Hale Hospital in Haverhill and later at the Anna Jaques Hospital in Newburyport for more than 20 years, retiring in 1990.
Having a strong faith, she was a daily communicant throughout her life. She was a member of the Court St. James Catholic Daughters #436 and Court Sacred Hearts #864 for many years. In addition to her own children, she became a mother to her extended family, nieces, nephews, cousins and her own children’s friends. “Mumsie” as she was lovingly known, along with her husband Gussie, maintained an open door policy in both of their homes in Haverhill and Seabrook Beach.
She is survived by her children, Stephen J. Comeau of Clinton; Kevin B. Comeau and his wife Natalie J. (Jacobson) of Haverhill and Donna M. Rans her husband L. Max Rans of South Boston; four grandchildren, Thomas R. Comeau of Clinton, and Monique M., David A. and Rachel A. Rans, all of South Boston; sister Geraldine J. Kelly of Arlington; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her son, Thomas Comeau.
Family and friends are invited to attend calling hours Sunday, May 1, from 2 to 6 p.m., at the Kevin B. Comeau Funeral Home, 486 Main St., Haverhill. Funeral services begin Monday morning at 9, from the funeral home with a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 10, at St. James Church, Winter Street, Haverhill. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Hilldale Avenue, Haverhill. Memorial donations may be made in her memory to the Liz Murphy Open Hand Pantry, 6 Cottage Street, Haverhill.