Joan Barbera Perreault's ties to Lowell ran deep. Her family owned Eastern Service, a successful appliance company located near St. Margaret of Scotland Parish. She graduated from the Keith Hall school, now Lowell Catholic. Later, she and her husband, Bill, built B&J Custom Alarm, a local security business. Community was the throughline of Joan's life.
When Joan was diagnosed with cancer, she received care at the Lowell General Hospital Cancer Center. When she passed in 2006, she had already decided to give something back. It was her way of honoring the care that had meant so much to her, and of helping the patients who would come after. Together, she and Bill left a bequest through their trusts to support the future of the Cancer Center.
A lifelong friend carries out her wishes
Brian Stafford had known Joan since first grade. As a CPA, Joan and Bill were clients of his for decades, and Brian assisted in making this bequest a reality after Bill's passing.
"Joanie wanted to give back to Lowell General because she was grateful for the care that extended her own life. Patient care was always first and foremost in her mind. She understood how her gift could provide comfort and support to patients and their families."
Brian Stafford, CPA
Meeting the need
Joan's generous bequest has helped Lowell General create exactly that kind of space. The Cancer Center was built 25 years ago. In the years since, demand has grown enormously, with doctors treating more patients and types of cancers than it was originally designed for, but the physical space had not changed. This gift gave the Center the opportunity to expand and keep pace with the needs of the community.
Joan's bequest allowed the Cancer Center to double its clinic space, growing from 8 to 16 exam rooms. The expansion means not only seeing more patients, but broadening the Center's specialties, with additional time from a thoracic surgeon, medical oncologist, plastic surgeon and neuro-oncologist. "All of this requires additional space, additional facilities, and because of this gift, we're now able to do that," shares Anasuya Gunturi, MD, PhD, Chief of Oncology at Lowell General Hospital.
Time when it matters most
The impact on patients is enormous. For Dr. Gunturi, it comes down to one thing: time. "We're going to be able to get patients in faster," Dr. Gunturi says. "Imagine yourself in one of my patients' shoes: you receive a diagnosis of cancer, and then you have to wait several weeks just to get the conversation started about the next steps. With this expansion of space and services, we're able to get patients in right away." It's the kind of comfort Joan had in mind—patients getting the answers they need, when they need them.
The role of planned giving
Philanthropy, Dr. Gunturi notes, is what makes that change possible. "There's a gap between what is needed to give high-quality care to our patients and the resources that we have. That's where philanthropy comes in. Gifts like this fill that gap and give us the tools and the necessary resources to provide the best timely, compassionate care for our patients. Any donation, no matter its size, has a real impact on real patients."
Planned gifts, she adds, carry that impact forward. "This is an excellent example of what a huge difference somebody can make in the lives of others, not just today but for generations to come."
