Joanne Virginia Chandler (née Harvey)

Joanne Virginia Chandler (née Harvey), 71, of Duxbury, Massachusetts, passed peacefully on March 13, 2026, in Providence, RI, after a courageous battle with cancer.

She was born on April 5, 1954, in Teaneck, New Jersey, to Robert Neil Harvey, Sr. and Virginia Lee Harvey (née Harman).

Joanne attended Pascack Hills High School in Montvale, New Jersey, and went on to Lynchburg College in Virginia before transferring to Boston University, where she completed her studies in education.

Joanne met her husband, Bradford Chandler, as a competitive sailboat racer in Nyack. Joanne's love for both competition and the sea quickly brought the two of them together as they teamed up to race against the region's top sailors. This love they shared for the sport turned into a lifetime of love for each other.

She began her career as a physical education teacher and later devoted herself fully to raising her family. Joanne lived in Whitman and later Duxbury, Massachusetts, where she found great joy in her role as a homemaker and mother.

Joanne was a loving and devoted mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt, deeply dedicated to her sons and her family. She was a tender, caring person known for her kindness, generosity, and welcoming spirit. She had a natural ability to make others feel comfortable and accepted, and she offered unconditional love and support to her family. She especially loved bringing everyone together during the holidays and wouldn't let anyone go without a gift. She was known for her squash casserole, which regularly made an appearance at family gatherings and was rarely left uneaten.

Joanne was a New England Patriots fan and shared that enthusiasm with her husband and sons. She also enjoyed playing guitar and singing, a gift she shared with her father and that was part of the fabric of family life.

Joanne faced life's challenges, including loss and illness, with enormous strength and resilience, leaving a lasting impression on all who knew her.

She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Bradford W. Chandler, and her sister, Susan Lee Harvey.

Joanne is survived by her sons, William Chandler, Michael Chandler and his wife Taj, and James Chandler and his wife Mary; her grandchildren, Bodhi and Kaia, children of Michael and Taj; her sister, Donna Rae Ramage (nee Harvey); her brother Robert Neil Harvey, Jr.; seven nieces and nephews and five grandnieces and grandnephews; and is also survived by members of the Chandler family.

A celebration of life will be held on June 13th from 1-4 PM at the Community Boating Center, 109 India Street, (Portugal Parkway), Providence, RI 02903. Please contact Jim and Mary Chandler (jimmarychandler@gmail.com) if you have any questions about the event.

Services are humbly entrusted into the care of Southcoast Funeral Homes at Ferreira Chapel "Celebrating A Life Well Lived"