Joan (Julien) Keating, 91, daughter of the late Clement & Rose (Arsenault) Julien, was a lifelong resident of Chelmsford Massachusetts, passed away on April 6, 2026. She was the beloved widow of her best friend and soulmate, Jack, with whom she shared 58 wonderful years of marriage before his passing.

Joan and her husband shared a deep passion for genealogy, spending countless hours researching their family history. This passion brought them on several memorable trips to Ireland, where they explored their roots and deepened their connection to their heritage. Together, they also enjoyed many vacations and her yearly birthday cruises with her twin sister Jeanne and their husbands, creating a lifetime of cherished memories.

Joan was a devoted mother and is survived by her four children: Jean Toellner and her husband Marc of Atkinson, New Hampshire; Kathy Berry and her husband John of Hampstead, New Hampshire; John M. Keating and his wife Denise of Dunbarton, New Hampshire; and Paula Keating of Plaistow, New Hampshire.

She was a proud and loving grandmother to eight grandchildren—Steven, Greg, Nicole, Megan, Kendra, Kristina, Adam, and Hannah—and was also blessed with eight great-grandchildren, all of whom she adored deeply.

Joan joins her late brother John (Brud) Julien, and is also survived by her twin sister, Jeanne Malenfant, her sisters Charlene Smith & Lynda Regan and a brother Joe Julien.

She will be remembered first and foremost for her deep and unwavering love of family—the way she showed up for everyone, in every season of life, without hesitation. Her curiosity about the past was more than just an interest; it was her way of keeping family stories alive, making sure no memory or name was ever forgotten.

Joan found her greatest joy in life’s simplest moments—being surrounded by the people she loved, sharing stories at the table, laughing over memories, and holding onto the little everyday traditions that meant everything. Family wasn’t just important to her; it was the center of her world.

Her warmth had a way of making everyone feel safe, welcome, and completely at home. She didn’t just open her door—she opened her whole heart. Family, friends, neighbors, and even newcomers were all welcomed the same way, without hesitation or judgment. Her home was a place where you could just walk in and instantly feel like you belonged, like you mattered, like you were exactly where you were meant to be. There was always room at her table, always an extra seat, and always love behind it.

The love she gave so freely will remain with her family always, and she will be missed beyond words by all who were lucky enough to know her. We will miss hearing her say, “love you best,” and the way she always made it feel like you truly were her best. But we’ll carry that with us always, knowing in our hearts she will always be right there—still loving us best, just like she always did.

A Celebration of Life will be held privately.

In lieu of flowers donation can be made in her memory to the Epilepsy Foundation