Joan M. Baptiste of Vineyard Haven died at age 57 on Tuesday, May 1, at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital after a long battle with lung cancer. She was the wife of Kim Baptiste whom she met in high school and was married to for 37 years.
Born in Somerville on August 14, 1954, at the age of eight Joan moved to Martha’s Vineyard with her parents, Brooks and Frances Carter. Her father, Brooks, was the owner of Carter Hardware Store on Main Street in Vineyard Haven. She attended the Tisbury School and was graduated from the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School in 1973. She married an Island boy, Kim Baptiste, in 1975. They had two children, Holly Ann Baptiste (Jackson) and Michael Brooks Baptiste.
Joan loved kayaking, spending time with her family and granddaughters, Mckensi and Neve. Joan was working at the Tisbury School Café until she took ill.She was a parishioner of the Good Shepherd Parish and a member of the P-A Club. Those of you who knew Joan, know she had a fun, fulfilled life and wouldn’t change a thing. She would want her family and friends to remember her with a smile.
She is survived by her husband, Kim; her children, Holly Jackson her son-in-law William Jackson, and son Michael Baptiste, her granddaughters Mckensi and Neve, her brothers, Robert Carter of Wilmington, Roger Carter of Westford, and Paul Carter of West Tisbury. Also nephews Cole, Brooks, Ben and her niece Lilly.
The family would like to thank Dr. Beth Donnelly and all the nurses at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital for all their help and support, and also Dr. Lovett from Hyannis.
Visiting hours will be held in the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home, Edgartown Road, Oak Bluffs, on Friday, May 4, from 5 to 8 pm. Her funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Augustine’s Church, Franklin St., Vineyard Haven on Saturday, May 5, at 2 pm, and burial will follow in the Oak Grove Cemetery, State Road, Vineyard Haven. A reception will be held at the P-A Club; please bring a dish to share.
Donations may be made in her memory to Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard, P.O. Box 2549 or to the P-A Club Benevolent Society, P.O Box 2203, both in Oak Bluffs, MA 02557, or the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham , MA 01701. Please visit ccgfuneralhome.com for online guest book and information.