May 19, 1936 – May 15, 2024
Joan Marie (Collins) Drane, 87, a resident of Reading for 52 years, passed away at her home on May 15, 2024.
Born in Malden and raised in Medford, she was the daughter of the late John Collins and the late Marie (O’Loughlin) Collins. Joan graduated from Girls Catholic High School in Malden in 1954. She earned a degree in mathematics from Emmanuel College in 1958. After her graduation, Joan applied her natural precision as a computer programmer at Emmanuel College and on contracts with the U.S. Air Force Geophysics Lab at Hanscom Air Force Base. It was at Hanscom AFB where she met her late husband of 43 years, Charlie, who worked as a civilian Physicist. In later years, she returned professionally to Emmanuel College and also worked in the Physics Department of Boston College.
Joan was an active member of the Reading community, supporting her neighbors and selflessly encouraging her children’s pursuits. A woman of faith, Joan was a decades-long volunteer at St. Agnes, teaching catechism and later volunteering in the parish office. She was an avid reader, loved crossword puzzles, and always knew all the answers on Jeopardy. She was an extraordinary woman – smart, witty, and strong. Joan was the beloved wife of the late Charles J. Drane, Jr. She is survived by her daughter, Nancy Drane, and her husband, Dana Colarulli of Alexandria, VA, and her son, Charles J. Drane III, and his wife, Elena of Milton. She loved her four grandchildren, Emily and Alexandra Drane and Ailinn and Braeden Colarulli, in whom her spirit lives on. She was the cherished sister of the late John “Jack” Collins and his wife Joyce Collins of Billerica and Sister-in-law to Elizabeth “Betty” Gould of Reading and Lucile Drane of Norton. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews and other cherished neighbors and friends.
Joan’s family will gather to celebrate her life and memory at the Douglass, Edgerley and Bessom Funeral Home at 25 Sanborn St. (corner of Woburn St.), Reading on Tuesday, May 21 at 9:30 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Agnes Church at 186 Woburn St. in Reading at 10:30am. Burial will follow at Wood End Cemetery, Reading. The family will hold visiting hours on Monday, May 20 from 4:00-7:00 p.m.
It is the family’s wish that in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Joan’s memory to the Mission of Deeds, 6 Chapin Avenue, Reading MA 01867 www.missionofdeeds.org
