Joseph P. Howard of Swampscott died peacefully on Sunday, October 4, 2026. He was 74. His wife, Alice (Carroll) Howard, died before him.
He was born in Lynn, the son of Joseph P. and Mary (Reardon) Howard, graduated from St. Mary’s High School in 1970 and lived most of his life in Swampscott. He worked for years as a landscaper and then managed the parts department at Stoneham Ford until he retired in 2021. His neighbors counted on him for the yearly block party, his family counted on him to spoil them at Christmas, and everyone knew his dry “Howard humor.” His grandson Teddy was his greatest joy.
He leaves his daughters, Elizabeth Flanagan and her husband Christopher, and Emily Howard; his grandchildren, Teddy Howard and Shea, Quinn and Beck Flanagan, who called him Papa; and his siblings, Elaine Vousboukis and David Howard. His son Michael Howard and his sister Kathleen Melkonian died before him.
Visiting hours are Wednesday, October 7 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Solimine Funeral Home, 67 Ocean Street, Lynn. The funeral leaves the funeral home Thursday, October 8 at 9 a.m. for a Mass at St. John the Evangelist Church, Swampscott, with burial at Swampscott Cemetery. The family suggests donations to Care Dimensions, 75 Sylvan Street, Suite B-102, Danvers.
Compiled from information published by Solimine Funeral Homes. Photograph courtesy of the family via Solimine Funeral Homes. This is our own summary, not the family’s obituary; read the full obituary and leave a condolence at the funeral home’s page on Legacy.com. Corrections: we will fix any error promptly.
