Joellen Margaret (Beck) Hawkins

Obituary of Joellen Margaret Beck Hawkins

Joellen was born on December 15, 1941, in Harvey, North Dakota, to the late Charles and Gertrude Beck. When she was 12 years old the family moved to North St. Paul, Minnesota. She graduated from North High School there where she was valedictorian. She attended Oberlin College for two years before transferring to Northwestern University where she received a bachelor's degree in nursing. She received both her master's and doctorate degrees from Boston College and was licensed as a women’s health nurse practitioner. She said that she chose nursing because of the influence of her father’s sister, her aunt “Tommy”, a nurse whom she greatly admired. She had a rich employment history which served her well in her teaching and research. She began her nursing career in community health nursing and maternity nursing. She also worked for a summer at Guy's Hospital in London, England, in the pediatric department. She held positions at Roger William's College and Salve Regina College before she was hired at Boston College School of Nursing. After moving to Connecticut, she was a professor at the University of Connecticut School of Nursing for five years. Upon moving back to Boston, she returned to Boston College. She continued with clinical work. During her long career at Boston College, she published 159 articles, 35 books, gave presentations that were the results of her research projects, and was an invited speaker at professional conferences around the world. She was the recipient of many community and professional awards. As of her retirement in 2008, her curriculum vitae was 46 pages long.

She married fellow Oberlin classmate Charles Watson in 1964, with whom she had two children, John and Andrew. After divorce in 1978, she married David Hawkins. They had a 47-year-long very happy marriage. Late in life, throughout her long-protracted illness, he and stepson Andy, Andy’s wife Rotchen, and additional hired caretakers, took care of her, thus enabling her to remain at home. She died at home on April 16, at 6:20 pm, with her family by her side. Although she accomplished more in one professional lifetime than most people could possibly do in 10, she still had time for family, friends and community volunteering. She was a good and generous friend, never forgetting a birthday or special occasion and was a loving parent.

She was an active member of the First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton, and for awhile at First Parish in Brookline, where in both places she sang in the choir. She was a fast reader and always had a few books that she was actively reading. There was always a book in her car and one in her house.

She is survived by her husband David, her sons John Watson of South Hadley, Andrew Watson and his wife Rotchen of Newton, stepson Glen and his wife Amy and granddaughter Helen, and stepson Marshall and his wife Sarah and grandson Elijah. She is also survived by her three brothers and their wives and many nieces and nephews.

She was interred at Plainville Cemetery in Plainville, Massachusetts, April 22nd.

A memorial service will be held at the First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton, 1325 Washington St., W. Newton, on Saturday, June 20 at 3:00 pm.

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