Obituaries » JOAN F. ERICKSON (SHORTT)
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Burial Date May 28, 2021
Funeral Home Miles Funeral Home, Holden
Place of Service Worcester County Memorial Park
Section Garden of Good Shepherd Lot Number: 122Grave Number: B#4
Joan F. (Shortt) Erickson, 84, passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 20, 2021 at the Life Care Center of Auburn. Born in Worcester, Joan was the daughter of Edwin and Matilda (Anderson) Shortt and lived many years in Holden, Rutland and West Brookfield. Her husband of 58 years, Robert J. Erickson predeceased her in 2015.
She is also predeceased by her sister Lee.
She leaves her two sons, Bradford Erickson and his wife, Jill of Jefferson and Kris Erickson of Rutland; two sisters, Beverly Cronin of Worcester and Sandy Heines of St. Petersburg, FL; five grandchildren, Alicia Hume and her husband, Jacob of Hampton Falls, NH, and Jinean, Jennifer, Sean, and Nicholas all of Holden; two great grandchildren, Jaxon and Brooklyn Hume, nephews and nieces.
Joan was a member of the first class to graduate from Wachusett Regional High School in 1955. After graduating she went to the school of Practical Art in Boston. She later studied at the Worcester Art Museum for several years, and then went to Quinsigamond Community College, and after graduating transferred to the University of Massachusetts in Amherst where she received a Bachelor of Fine Art in studio art. She worked in oil, water color, pastel, and oil pastel. She exhibited her paintings in shows and galleries throughout New England. She also wrote poetry, she had several poems published and loved to read her work at poetry venues and coffee houses. Her paintings and poems were a visual journey of her life; growing up, traveling with her husband, being a mother, a grandmother, and a great grandmother.
Joan was a gentle soul who thought the best of everyone and always kept the upbeat positive attitude. She was a proud practitioner of Falun Dafa for many years.
Joan’s life will be honored and remembered at a private family gathering by her grave at Worcester County Memorial Park in Paxton. A celebration of life/ art show will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Life Care Center of Auburn. Arrangements are under the care of Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main St., Holden.