Joan Blanchard

Joan Blanchard
1933-2022

Joan Blanchard, 88, resident of St. Augustine, FL, died on August 21, 2022 after a period of declining health.

She was born on October 23, 1933, a daughter of the late James and Marion (Clark) Lorette. She spent her youth in Greenfield, later marrying William A. Blanchard (deceased) and moving to Lyndeborough and then Wilton, NH to raise their children. An avid cook all of her life, she worked in the school system making lunches for the children for years, before working at The Barn at Hitchiner’s with her sister, Eva. In later years, she found a passion for real estate, working in Concord, NH, finding satisfaction in helping connect families with their new homes. She and Bill spent many years traveling back and forth between New Hampshire and Florida, eventually residing in Palm Coast, finding enjoyment in the friends and activities she joined there, such as bowling, volunteering at the VFW, and playing slot machines. At any given time, Joan could be found enjoying the ocean, the heat of the sun, playing Bingo, eating lobster, or spending time with her family - all her great joys.

She will best be remembered by her grandchildren as the one who taught them all to bake, and by her children as a strong moral compass for their lives. All will remember how much she loved them, and the many phrases that she was famous for, such as “drive careful, no strays”.

Joan was predeceased by her parents, her husband, her brothers James, Robert, Fred, Francis, Ralph, and sister Elinor (Lorette) Batchelder.

Joan is survived by her three sisters, Eva (Lorette) Cheever, Phyllis (Lorette) O’Donnell, and Dorothy (Lorette) Brown; a brother Joe, and sister-in-law Patricia (Paro), four children, Bill (Regina), Michael (Susan), Dennis (Donna), and Mary (Blanchard) Jensen; eight grandchildren, Christopher (Samantha), Jeremy (Peggy), Krystal, Jill (Kiko), Jared (Hillary), Joanna (Harper), Kyle, Stacy (Mark); eleven great-grandchildren Chloe, Madison, Chase, Jaxson, Christian, Mason, Catalina, Lydia, Mary, Maximo, and Sylvia; and many nieces and nephews.

SERVICES:  Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday, August 31, 2022 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM in the Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm Street, Milford, NH.  A service will be held on Thursday, September 1, 2022 at 11:00 AM in the Second Congregational Church, 25 Gregg Street, Wilton, NH, 03086.  Burial will be in South Cemetery, Lyndeborough, NH. Arrangements are in the care of the Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm Street, Milford, NH.  To share a memory or offer a condolence please visit www.smith-heald.com for more information.