Joan M. Blake

Joan was born in New York City, NY to Timothy and Mary Hartnett and raised in the Bronx. As a young girl and teenager, she had been an award-winning competitive Irish Step Dancer. Joan attended Mother Cabrini High School at the Cloisters in New York City and attended the Woods Memorial Business School. During her time in NY, she was an executive secretary at Empire Mutual Insurance and for over 10 years she was a volunteer at New York’s Foundling Hospital.

Joan married Daniel Blake in 1968 and they had three children. The family lived in Rye and Wappingers Falls, NY; Springfield, VA; and eventually Londonderry and Strafford, NH.

Over the years, Joan worked as a medical secretary for a variety of doctors’ practices. Her quick smile and the ability to console and comfort others won her many friends among the patients, doctors and co-workers.

Joan had a strong religious faith, with a special devotion to the blessed Mother Mary. For many years she was involved in the RCIA program at St. Jude’s Church in Londonderry, NH and participated in Perpetual Eucharistic Adorations many times at her church. Joan also traveled to Medugorje and Rome for pilgrimages with her fellow church members.

Joan was a loving wife, mother and grandmother and had many close friends for whom she always had a big smile and hug.

Joan is survived by her husband Daniel of Strafford; daughter Betsy Riley and husband Chris of Deerfield; son Dan Blake Jr. and wife Nora of Charlestown, MA; son Brian Blake and wife Karen of Strafford; and six grandchildren - Liam and Patrick Riley; Andrew Blake; Grace, Kathryn and Aidan Blake. She also leaves her sister Lillian Higgins of Yarmouth, MA and many loving nieces, nephews and in-laws.

Services will be held at Bennett Funeral Home, 209 N. Main Street, Concord, NH. Calling hours will be Saturday, Dec.3 from 2-5 pm and Sunday, Dec. 4 from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm.

A funeral Mass will be held on Monday. Dec 5 10am at Immaculate Heart of Mary 176 Loudon Rd, Concord, followed by internment at the Veteran’s Cemetery in Boscawen, NH.

Memorial donations maybe made in Joan’s name to NH Catholic Charities, PO Box 686, Manchester, NH or Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation, Suite 1007, 10 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, New York, 10020

Arrangements under the direction of Bennett Funeral Home, Concord, NH.