Joan P. (Penney) Caira

Waltham – Mrs. Joan P. (Penney) Caira, of Waltham, died Saturday, June 7, 2014 at her home. She was 79.

Joan was born in Waltham on April 16, 1935, a daughter of the late Clifford and Antoinette (Bibbo) Penney, and had been a lifelong resident. She was a graduate of Saint Mary's High School in Waltham.

Until her retirement Joan worked for a number of years in the bakery department and in the deli at Purity Supreme Supermarket in Newton and later at the Stop & Shop on Pleasant Street in Watertown.

When she wasn't working Joan enjoyed cooking, knitting and caring for her large family of nine children and in later years spending lots of time with her grandchildren.

Joan's husband of forty-nine years, Ralph Caira, Sr. died November 21, 2002.

She leaves her children, Linda A. Dugas and her husband, John, of Clayton, North Carolina, Ralph Caira, Jr. and his wife, Linda, of Newton, Scott D. Caira and his wife, Donna, Virginia M. "Jinny" Welch and her husband, John, all of Waltham, Joan P. Caira-DiDuca of Billerica, AnnMarie Caira, Paula J. Lewis and her husband, Stephen, all of Waltham, Tricia Caira and her husband, Shane Herlet, of Fairfield, Connecticut and Laurie A. Gregory and her husband, Fred, of Millis; her grandchildren, Kelly Coveney, Nicole Dugas, Lisa Marie, Antoinette, Jesse and Spencer Caira, Jack, Ashley and Ethan Welch, Anthony, Cassie and Geena DiDuca, Cole Herlet, Angelica, CJ, Samantha, Serena and Ben Lewis and Jamie and Alex Gregory; her great-grandchildren, Nicholas, Owen, Seth, Kelly and Joseph; and her sisters, Carol Landry and her husband, Leo, of Maynard and Donna Fraser and her husband, Jack, of Waltham.

Joan was also a sister of the late Barbara LaBarge and Clifford Penney.

Family and friends will honor and remember Joan's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Wednesday, June 11th, from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 9 a.m. on Thursday morning before leaving in procession to Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Church, 880 Trapelo Road, Waltham where her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Waltham.

Memorial donations may be made to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, 89 South Street, Suite 406, Boston, MA 02111.