Joan Lestyn Zecha

Joan was born on September 12, 1934 in Keene, NH, daughter of Lillian and Gordon Bemis of Keene. She graduated from Keene High School and attended Keene State College where she met and married Frederick (Chubby) Zecha Sr. of Keene in 1956. They were married for 63 years.

Joan and Chubby made their home in Keene for many years where they were one of the original “House Flippers”, fixing up and living in 7 different homes in Keene before moving to Laconia, NH in 1979. In Keene, Joan was a school crossing guard for many years as well as working in gift shops in the area. In Laconia, Joan worked for many years at Bank of New Hampshire, and in her retirement, worked at an Antique shop.

Joan’s extraordinary kindness, compassion and empathy touched countless lives and left a lasting impression on everyone she knew. She will be remembered as a wonderful friend and neighbor hosting holiday gatherings and get togethers. She was a devoted wife, mother and “Nanny”. Her life was her family and friends and her love of decorating, antiques, making strawberry jam and lemon cookies for her grandchildren and the people she loved.

She is predeceased by her husband Frederick, Sr. (Chubby); her parents Gordon and Lillian Bemis; her sisters Ginny Bell and Sandy Fraser; her brothers Gordon Bemis. Jr. and Kenneth Bemis.

She is survived by her children, Frederick “Rick” Zecha, Jr., and his wife Darcey of Keene; Cindy (Zecha) Salta and her husband Bill of Laconia; Jason Zecha and his wife Donna of Concord; eight grandchildren, Alexis and Frederick “Erick” Zecha, III and his fiancé Mollee Lasto; Meg, Will, James and his wife, Amanda; Andrew and his wife, Hannah Salta; Audrey and her husband Kevin McCulley, and Sarah Zecha and her fiancé Jack Segal as well as three great- grandchildren. She also leaves her sister-in-law, Joan Robbins Bemis of Keene and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Joan can be made to residents of Merrimack County Nursing Home; payable to the Edna McKenna Fund. Merrimack County Nursing Home 325 Daniel Webster Highway Boscawen, NH 03303.