Joan Patricia (Kenary) Murphy, of Rutland and formerly of Holden died on Saturday, March 29, 2008 in Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She was 63. The cause of death was heart failure.

   She is survived by her husband, John; two daughters, Jennifer Berthiaume and her husband Chris Berthiaume of Rutland; and Kristen Shinozaki and her husband Kenji Shinozaki of Tokyo. She is also survived by her grandchildren Emily and Abigail Berthiaume and Kent and Jake Shinozaki; her brother Jim Kenary of St. Johnsbury, Vermont; her sister Jean Domaingue of Lewiston, Maine and her brother Jon Kenary of Alpharetta, Georgia; and many nieces and nephews.

   She was born in Boston, on August 15, 1944 to Dorothy Lowell Kenary and James S. "Bud" Kenary. She attended elementary schools in Holden and West Hartford and the Ursuline Academy in Springfield where she was President of her class for three years. She attended Newton College of the Sacred Heart in Newton and graduated with Honors in 1965. She then taught elementary school in Shrewsbury, Winchester and Worcester before becoming the manager of the Heather Shop in Holden for many years. Most recently she was a contracts manager for IBM in Raleigh, North Carolina and Poughkeepsie, New York. She and John were married in 1968 in Holden and raised their children in Holden.

   She enjoyed cooking, gardening, traveling both within and outside the United States and vacations at the beach. Her true passion was her family, especially her beloved grandchildren, and the many friends she had made over the years. Joan was never without a friend or a loved one. Those who were privileged enough to have Joan in their lives could always count on her for a shoulder to cry on, or a friend to share happiness with. She will always be remembered for her amazing interest in the lives of all who knew her. Her wonderful warm smile, her caring heart, her love of life and her determination to challenge her medical prognosis leaves a legacy for those who knew and loved her.

   Relatives and friends are invited to attend calling hours from 4 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 2nd, in the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main St., Holden. Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday in St. Mary's Church, 114 Princeton St., Jefferson. Burial will follow in the Worcester County Memorial Park, Paxton. Donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 330 Congress St., 5th Floor, Boston, MA 02210, in her honor.