Joan M. Palmer

She was born in 1940 in Manchester, N.H., the youngest of 7 siblings, to Thomas and Charlotte (Howe) Egan.

Joan graduated from Central High School in 1958. She met the love of her life during her high school years and could always be found cheering for Gary at his Bishop Bradley football games at Gill Stadium!

Joan and Gary raised their children Deb and Dan in Manchester and Litchfield, New Hampshire. They were very active parishioners at St. Francis of Assisi, where Joan served as a Eucharistic Minister.

Joan worked in the Fire Prevention Bureau at Manchester Fire Headquarters for many years. The firefighters loved playing pranks on her, especially serving her extra spicy food!

Joan was a loyal Red Sox fan, her favorite player was Johnny Damon and she was delighted when her family surprised her with a tour of Fenway Park for her 70th birthday.

Joan loved books, ice cream, chicken tenders at the Back Room, vacations at Hampton beach and weekends with her lifelong friends, “the girls”.

Joan and Gary retired to Englewood Florida where they enjoyed 20 years of shenanigans with new and old friends, warm winters and happy hours at the pool!

When Joan returned to New England, she enjoyed cheering for Daniel at his crew races, and Nick, Harry and Charlie at their football and basketball games.

She also relished every chance to beat her grandsons at cribbage and Yahtzee!

Joan is predeceased by her husband of 61 years, Gary Palmer, who passed in 2020. She is survived by daughter Deborah Cote, her husband Lewis and grandson, Nick, of Burlington, M.A.; son Daniel, his wife, Alyson, and grandsons Harrison, Charlie and Daniel of Groton, M.A. She is also survived by her sister Helen Joseph of Manchester, N.H., and many nieces and nephews.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday January 2, 2025, at St. Joseph’s Cathedral Chapel in Manchester NH at 11am. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Derryfield Country Club in Manchester following the Mass.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Joan’s memory to her friends at the Sisters of the Precious Blood, 700 Bridge St., Manchester, NH 03104.