Joanne Bergquist

Joanne T. Bergquist, 72, of Chatham, Massachusetts passed away peacefully at Cape Cod Hospital on October 8th after a valiant battle with cancer. She was surrounded by the enormous love of family and friends.

Joanne was born in Fairhaven, MA in 1943 to Daniel and Eileen Buckley. She lived in New Jersey and Ohio before settling in Centerville, MA in 1958. Joanne was a 1961 graduate of Barnstable High School and a member of the first graduating class of Cape Cod Community College. She later attended The University of Massachusetts Amherst for two more years before marrying Paul Bergquist in Harwichport on October 1st, 1966.

A loving mother to her two sons Benjamin Bergquist of Harwich, and Dan Bergquist of Chatham, Joanne spent many years focused on family before opening a Scandinavian Import store “Johannas” on Main Street in Chatham. Between the years of 1983 and 1999 she was the hard-working co-owner of Nickerson Fish and Lobster, working alongside her husband Paul.

Joanne “Tutu Jo” Bergquist had many interests and talents that included painting, writing, poetry, sewing with her granddaughter Sophie, knitting, Nantucket basket weaving, baking with granddaughter Sonja, caring for grandson Jakob every “TuTu Tuesday”, and spoiling her grand-dog Mabel. She loved her gardens and flowers, and enjoyed cooking and entertaining many friends and family at her home. She was a dedicated volunteer for the P.T.A. and cub scouts when her sons were young, and helped pioneer a “healthy food” program at the Chatham Elementary School. She was the coordinator for the Lower Cape Fresh Air Fund and a Cape Cod Hospital volunteer. She served on the board at The Creative Arts Center in Chatham and flourished in the numerous art classes she took there. She attended St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church and was a dedicated volunteer at St. Christopher’s consignment shop, a position that brought her much happiness.

Joanne shared her love of travel with her husband. Together, they have travelled to the Bahamas, Caribbean, and Europe with family and friends alike. Joanne and Paul bravely completed two Trans-Atlantic crossings in their beloved sailboat “Chequered Past.”

Joanne is survived by her devoted husband of 49 years, Paul Bergquist and their large and loving family: son Benjamin, his wife Terry, and their daughters Sophie and Sonja (a.k.a. “The Golden Girls”) of E. Harwich, alongside son Dan, his wife Sarah, and their son Jakob (a.k.a. “The Golden Boy”) of Chatham; her brother Michael Buckley and his wife Nancy, and sons Zach and Max of Freedom, ME; her younger brother Daniel Buckley, wife Sheila and son Michael of Harwich; and numerous adoring relatives in Sweden with whom she was very close, and loved hosting in Chatham over the years.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Memorial Service on January 9th at 11 AM at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, followed by a Celebration of Life party.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: Dana-Farber Cancer Institutue, P.O. Box 849169, Boston, MA 02284 or online at www.dana-farber.org/gift.

For online condolences, please visit www.nickersonfunerals.com.