CHELMSF0RD, MA – Joan Cleveland Taylor, age 89, a resident of Chelmsford and former longtime resident of Chagrin Falls, Ohio died Saturday, November 15, 2014 at her home following a very fulfilling life. She was the beloved wife of John C. Taylor, to whom she was married for 63 years.

She was born in Newton, MA on September 30, 1925, and was the oldest daughter of the late Thomas V. and Bettina (Starratt) Cleveland. She received her education through the Newton schools and earned her bachelor’s degree from Colorado College. She subsequently attended the Nursery Training School of Boston (now part of Tufts) for post-graduate work when she was hired as a nursery school teacher by the Merrill Palmer Institute in Detroit, MI. She never completed her Master’s but it was in Detroit where she met Jack! She was an avid reader and enjoyed traveling - remembering fondly the time she and Jack lived in Switzerland. Joan enjoyed a healthy, active lifestyle, evident in her attention to being well in body, mind, and spirit. She was an active member of the Federated Church in Chagrin Falls until they moved to Massachusetts in 2013.

Her love of family was evident in the wonderful times she had with family throughout her life. This love also extended to others, as Joan lived a life dedicated to improving the human condition by working for human rights, civil rights, and peace. Whether raising four foster teenage children, or tutoring children living in poverty - something she did her entire life - she was determined to do as much as she could in response to how fortunate she felt she was for so many blessings in her own life.

In addition to her husband, Joan is survived by her two sons and daughters-in-law, Thomas and Janis Taylor of Chelmsford and Stephen and Ellen Taylor of Ann Arbor, MI; five grandchildren, Rebecca and her husband Gregory Kulah of Chelmsford, Anne and her husband Gregory Khirallah of Alexandria, VA, Daniel Taylor and his wife Claire of Baltimore, MD, Leah Taylor of Brooklyn, NY, and Jonathan Taylor of Hamtramck, MI; and two great grandchildren, Hailey Kulah and Desmond Khirallah; a sister and brother-in-law, Bettina and Robert Sechrest of Wellesley Hill, MA; and several nieces and nephews.

She was also the grandmother of the late William Taylor and the sister of the late Constance Cleveland.

The family has planned private services.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Joan’s memory may be made to St. Paul’s Community Church, 4427 Franklin Blvd., Cleveland, OH 44113.