Joan R. Aziz

Joan R. Aziz, age 92, of West Boylston, MA died on July 18 of complications following a battle with COVID-19.

She was pre-deceased by her husband of 64 years, George J. Aziz, Sr., and by her two sisters, Jacqueline Najimy of Pittsfield and Dr. Charlotte Rahaim of Shutesbury. She leaves five children: Michael Aziz of Cambridge and his partner Julie Taylor; Linda Betzig of Bolton and her husband Dikran Betzig; George Aziz, Jr., of West Boylston and his wife Deborah Bousquet; Paul Aziz of North Hampton, NH and his wife Janet Allen; and Mary Bousquet of San Diego, CA and her husband Glen Bousquet; and ten grandchildren: Natalya Betzig of Dedham, Alexie Betzig of Boylston, Nicole Pepe of Worcester, Olivia Aziz of Holden, Adele Aziz of Valencia, Spain, Kylene Aziz of Bozeman, Montana, Emma Bousquet of San Diego, Jacob Aziz of West Boylston, Mariele Aziz of Bar Harbor, Maine, and Aleia Bousquet of San Diego. She is also survived by her nephew Albert Najimy of Pittsfield; two nieces, Allyce Najimy of Boston and Merrie Najimy of Watertown; and her ex daughter-in-law, Michele Forinash of Maynard.

Joan was born November 13, 1927 in Gardner, the daughter of Albert and Mary Rahaim. She graduated from Gardner High School in 1946 as a member of the National Honor Society. She graduated with honors as a business major in 1948 from Becker College in Worcester.

While residing in Gardner she was business manager for two Rahaim family companies, The Rahaim Machine & Tool Company, owned by her father, and the Rahaim Furniture and Carpet Company, owned by her uncle Alfred Rahaim. Mrs. Aziz was an avid bridge player and an active member of the Gardner Theater Guild.

She and Mr. Aziz were married on July 9, 1955 at the Sacred Heart Church in Gardner. The family relocated to West Boylston in 1957. She was a member of Our Lady of Good Counsel Women's club and taught CCD classes at the church. She was also a former chairperson of the West Boylston Women's club scholarship committee. She was a longtime active member of the Worcester Institute for Senior Education at Assumption College. In 1988 she received the keys to the city of Worcester from Mayor Jordan Levy for her work in fundraising for ALSAC-St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.
She was employed for many years as head bookkeeper at the West Boylston Municipal Lighting Plant, retiring in 1991. Mr. & Mrs. Aziz and their family and countless numbers of relatives and friends enjoyed many happy years and vacations at their summer cottages in South Yarmouth on Cape Cod.

Funeral services are private. The family will not be available at the funeral home but will be available for virtual online calling hours from 4:00 to 6:00 pm EDT on Saturday, July 25, via web browser or Zoom at https://tinyurl.com/JoanAziz
While in line for the calling hours, you can open a new window and view the slideshow at this website.

In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to ALSAC for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital through either https://tinyurl.com/Joan-Aziz-ALSAC-fund or normal routes.