Joan M. “Joni” Kowalski (Dukeshire) of Halifax, 82, died unexpectedly on Tuesday May 19, 2026, at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital – Plymouth after a brief illness.

She was born on October 19, 1943, in Cambridge, MA to the late William and Anna (Dunn) Dukeshire. After graduating Cambridge High, she worked for a time at Polaroid in Cambridge. She worked as a bartender and waitress at many popular South Shore establishments over the years as well as working at Marylou’s in Scituate. For the last 20 plus years she has been a staple at Stop and Shop in Kingston where she worked picking orders through the pandemic or as a cashier. She enjoyed painting, writing, gardening, and the occasional trip to Foxwoods along with taking care of her many pets over the years. She was also a devoted New England Patriots fan.

She is survived by her son Alan Kowalski and wife Renee of Taunton and granddaughter Sarah Kowalski of Taunton, along with many nieces and nephews.

Family and friends are respectfully invited to a visitation from 9AM to 11AM at the MacKinnon Funeral Home, 760 Washington Street, Whitman MA on Tuesday, May 26. A funeral service will be held in the funeral home at 11AM. Burial will follow at the Halifax Town Cemetery behind the Halifax Town Hall on Hemlock Lane.