Joan V. Shalek

Joan “Joanie” V. Shalek, 86, of Nashua, NH, passed away September 18, 2025, at the Community Hospice House in Merrimack, NH. She was born on January 19, in Brooklyn, NY to Charlie Vana and Leah Diane (Wishnia) Vana.

While attending Jordan L. Mott Junior High School #22 in Bronx, NY, Joanie met Lois Shalek, and by the time they graduated from Walton High School in 1956, they were the best of friends. This friendship soon became a life-long sisterhood when Joanie married Lois’ older brother and the love of her life, Martin Shalek, in October 1959.

Joanie and “Marty” officially became parents on January 7, 1964, with the birth of their first child, named after Joanie’s mother who had passed only 3 months prior. They continued to grow their family and eventually moved to Billerica, MA, where they shared a duplex with Marty’s parents. They eventually settled in Nashua, NH where they celebrated 61 happy years of marriage in October 2020.

Joan was a model housewife when her children were very young. As they got older, she started working for department stores such as JC Penny, Zayre’s and Stewart’s, where she could work evenings. And after receiving some training, she took administrative positions at places like Memorial Hospital (now Southern NH Medical Center), in the Radiology Dept., various insurance companies, and finally Norfolk Kitchen and Bath, before her “retirement”.

Predeceased by her parents and her adoring husband, Joan is survived by her daughter Leah Shalek, of Karmiel, Israel; sons Paul Shalek and his wife, Lisa, of Danville; Gary Shalek, of Nashua, and his former wife Shawn Lee Carter and her daughter Winter Alton, who are both considered family; and Peter Shalek and his wife, Donna, of Chelmsford, MA; grandchildren, Benjamin Shalek, Zacharia Shalek, J Shalek, Lexian Shalek, Nicole Shalek, Russell Shalek, Charles Shalek, Alizsa Shalek, Allison Shalek, Riley Shalek, Dillon Shalek; six great-grandchildren; brothers-in-law, David Shalek, of Vergennes, VT, Jules Shalek and his wife, Robin, of Vergennes, VT; sister-in-law, Lois Graber, of Charleston, SC; many beloved nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, countless friends and honorary family members who loved and adored her.

Services will be held graveside on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, at 2 pm, at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery, in Boscawen, NH. Services will also be streamed, signal permitting. Please check back here for updates on Livestream.