Coping with Grief
We would like to offer our sincere support to anyone coping with grief. Enter your email below for our complimentary daily grief messages. Messages run for up to one year and you can stop at any time. Your email will not be used for any other purpose.
Fitchburg- Joan Elinor (Burdick) McDermott, 85 of Fitchburg, MA passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by family, on March 3, 2026. Joan was born on September 28, 1940 and was a lifelong Fitchburg resident. She was the beloved daughter of Joseph & Minnie (Cuddy). She was a graduate of the FHS class of 1958.
She is predeceased by her parents, 3 sisters, Nancy, Beverly, & Shirley and her granddaughter, Heather-Lynne.
Joan is survived by her husband, Paul, with whom she shared over 50 years of marriage with. She’s also survived by her brother Robert, sister Constance, her son, James and wife Brenda (Marien), daughters, Karen and her husband, Chuck Bergeron and their daughters, Stephanie & Jennifer, and Susan (McDermott) Salazar and her daughters, Brittany & Monica (Hurst) and their son, Everett. She also leaves many nieces and nephews.
Joan took pride in helping to raise her grandchildren. She enjoyed taking part in their accomplishments & watching them grow into beautiful young women. She will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved her.
Calling hours will be held on Thursday, March 12 in Richardson Funeral Home from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM followed by a funeral Mass at St. Bernard Parish, 333 Mechanic St., Fitchburg at 12:00 PM. Burial will be in St. Bernard Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her name to The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Joan (Burdick) McDermott, please visit our floral store.