Joan Pelchat Jennings, age 82, wife of the late John J. Jennings, Esquire of Salem, died Saturday evening November 16, 2013 at the North Shore Medical Center surrounded by family. Born December 4, 1930 to the late Arthur J. and Genevieve (Cecelski) Pelchat, Joan was a graduate of Salem High School where she met her beloved husband John. The couple made their home in Salem, Massachusetts where they raised four children.

Joan was a loving mother, grandmother and wife, a real estate agent, a talented craftswoman, an ardent sports fan and a dedicated volunteer. She worked at the telephone company prior to raising her family and began a second career as a real estate agent in her fifties, a profession she continued for over 20 years.Throughout her life Joan engaged in creative endeavors: painting, sewing, knitting and decoupage. She followed all sports that her husband, children, and granchildren participated in: following Salem, Harvard and Boston College football, Salem and Danvers soccer, lacrosse and field hockey, and St. John Prep, Colby College and Bridgeton Academy Lacrosse. She believed in giving back and was a dedicated volunteer at both Salem Hospital and the Little Sisters of the Assumption. She brought love and compassion to all she did and will be greatly missed.

She is survived by five children, Kathleen Jennings Sweeney and her husband, John Sweeney, Jr of Danvers, Nancy Jennings Pelletier and her husband, Philip Pelletier of Salem, John James Jennings III and his wife Ellen McDonald Jennings of Danvers, Jeremiah J. Jennings and his wife Deborah Jennings (Beote) of Salem, Thomas J. Lambert and his wife Donna (Charette) Lambert of Salem; 14 grandchildren: Emily Koriku, P. Michael Pelletier, Joanna Sweeney Gray, Ashley Lambert, Bridget Sweeney, Jacqueline Jennings, T.J. Lambert, Jeremiah Jennings, John Jennings IV, Anna Maye Pelletier, Sarah Lambert, Katherine Jennings, Julia Jennings, and William Jennings; three great grandchildren: Leona Koriku, Reagan Pelletier and Jean Paul Koriku; a sister in law Kathleen Combe and many nieces and nephews.

Her funeral will be held on Friday, November 22, 2013 at 10:00 AM at the Immaculate Conception Church, 15 Hawthorne Boulevard. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Interment will be in Greenlawn Cemetery, Salem. Visiting hours will be on Thursday, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM in the Murphy Funeral Home 85 Federal St, corner of North St, Salem. For online guest book or additional information, please call 978 744 0497 or visit www.MurphyFuneralHome.com.