Joanne (Bennett) Whynot-Butler

Joanne Whynot-Butler (nee Bennett), born June 18^th, 1957, in Weymouth, MA, passed away surrounded by family in the early morning hours of Saturday, November 23^rd, 2024. Loved and cherished by all who knew her, she was a living example of unconditional love for those she knew and strangers in need she met along the way.

Joanne graduated from Randolph High School in 1975 and was a Brockton Nursing School graduate in 1995. Upon graduation, she worked for the Braintree Rehab Hospital and The Cotting School in Lexington, before retiring from the Massachusetts Hospital School in Canton after 12 years of service. Joanne became an ordained minister and went on to marry 50 amazing couples, all of whom she knew personally. She was an active Master Reiki practitioner, a licensed notary, and traveled to dozens of countries around the world.

Her commitment to service for others is best exemplified by over 10,000 hours of volunteerism. Her tireless efforts made her a treasure to various organizations. This included, but was not limited to, driving Brockton VA Hospital Veterans to and from various events and hosting the veterans with ice cream socials, cookouts, and holiday parties. She ran many fund-raising events such as meat raffles, bingo, Left Right Center tournaments and many others. She ran an equal number of social events at the Frank M. Noyes VFW Post #8892 in Avon such as St. Patrick’s Day dinners and Veterans Day Breakfasts. She always had a hand in local AMVETS/VFW events and parades. Joanne was the State President of the Amvets Women’s Auxiliary in 2007-2008 and 2015-2016, and local President of the Avon Ladies Auxiliary Post in 2001. In 2022 she was awarded the Amvets National Auxiliary Member of the Year award, the Amvets National Veterans Affairs Volunteer Services (VAVS) award, and in 2023, the President’s Lifetime Achievement Volunteer Service Award signed by President Biden. She was also a Member of the Yankee Division Memorial Club out of Weymouth, a Member of the Department of Veterans Affairs Chairman’s Committee for the Bourne National Cemetery, and Chairman of the Veterans Committee for the Randolph Elks. She was also a Charter Member of the Whitman American Legion Post and Riders #22 and a member of the Patriot Guard Honor Riders.

Joanne is survived by her husband of 26 years, William Butler, her ex-husband, Larry Whynot, and children, John Whynot and wife Shabana of the United Kingdom, Joseph Whynot and wife Jaime of Lakeville, MA, and Samantha Tantillo and husband Dan of West Bridgewater, Grandchildren Adam, Sudaysa, Qays, Cali, Amelia, Sahul, Madeline, Evelyn, and Angelina, Brothers Paul Bennett of West Bridgewater, Robert Bennett of Brockton, sisters Karen Bennett of Whitman, Sheryl Hayes of Lakeville, and Michelle Ross of Randolph, as well as many close life-long friends, nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and a great-great niece. Joanne is predeceased by her parents, Russell & Theresa Bennett of Randolph, and sister-in-law Irene Bennett of West Bridgewater.

Joanne will be greatly missed by all the people whose lives she touched, helped, loved, and last but not least all those who she told where to go and how to get there.

Visiting hours will be held at the Hurley Currie Funeral Home, 127 So. Franklin St. (Rt. 37), Holbrook on Tuesday, December 3^rd from 4-8pm.  Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend.  A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, December 4^th at 10:45am at the MA National Cemetery in Bourne.

In lieu of flowers (especially with National Cemetery restrictions) the family is asking for donations to be made in Joannes name to the following organizations. The Cotting School, Lexington MA, Brockton Nursing School, Brockton MA and the MA Chapter of Disabled American Veterans.