Jane E. Joseph, 60, lifelong of Martin Street, Essex, died Friday April 25, 2008 in the Beverly Hospital following her sudden illness.

Born in Ipswich May 12, 1947, she was the daughter of the late Clinton and Elizabeth (Perkins) Joseph. She attended elementary school in Essex and was a 1965 graduate of Gloucester High School. After completing her studies at Burdett College in Lynn, she continued her education at North Shore Community College. She was employed as a medical secretary and transcriptionist for twenty years at Cable Hospital in Ipswich, and was later employed at Anna Jacques Hospital in Newburyport. For the last five years she worked at Beverly Hospital. She was an avid reader.

She is survived by her sister Priscilla Fraser and her husband Malcolm of FL, her nieces and nephews Frederick Rowe of Gloucester, Douglas Rowe and his wife Kate of Brownfield, Maine, Timothy Fraser and his wife Christianne of FL, Sandra Staples and her husband Robert of Ipswich, Suzanne Fraser and her husband Dana of Haverhill and Pamela Roberts of Gloucester, and her beloved cat Archie. She was the sister of the late Lawrence Joseph and the late Katherine Rowe, both formerly of Essex.

Her funeral service will be held graveside Tuesday April 29 at 10 am in the Spring Street Cemetery, Essex. Family and friends respectfully welcomed. Arrangements by the Whittier-Porter Funeral Home of Ipswich. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in her name may be made to the Ipswich Humane Group, Box 873, Ipswich, MA 01938.