Joan C. Leblanc, ( Jungle ) 84, died Tuesday August 16, 2022. She was born December 20th 1937. She was married to the late Jeanne Brossart, and was the daughter of late Ernest (Nappy) Leblanc and late Elvina (Nook) Pecquet. She has one son Alex Hammatt. She was born in E. Baton Rouge, Louisiana and grew up in Sunrise LA. She attended Lafayette College in LA and achieved a Master’s Degree in Special Education from Lesley College Boston, Ma. She married the late Francis P. Hammatt on May 21, 1960. Eventually settling in Brewster, Massachusetts.
Although Joan was living a conventional life there was nothing conventional about her. She devoted her working life to teaching. She loved science and nature. Her true passion was helping children with special needs. She worked with the Special Olympics Organization, volunteered to help young single mothers, so they could have time to further their education. She was Assistant Director at the Latham Center in Brewster, MA, an organization devoted to the treatment of children and adults with intellectual disabilities and complex special needs. There were no boundaries when it came to the compassion she had for people less fortunate.
She loved all that Cape Cod had to offer where she spent a better part of her life. From Surf casting off Nauset beach where she once got her picture in the paper, picking blueberries, canoeing down the Pamet river in Truro. Photography was another favorite pastime taking pictures of the natural beauty of the Cape.
Another love was Provincetown, MA where Joan and Jeanne lived for many years. She loved the atmosphere and the people, only in such a place that when she was older and in a wheelchair wanting to sit out on the beach at a restaurant but with no means to get there-the love of community brought her four strong men who carried her out wheelchair and all over the sand to where she wanted to be. Determined not to let things get in her way of living life, she would get herself downtown and venture out on Arts Dune Tours or go to The Muse for an evening of music.
Her heart lived in another place as well. Sunrise, Louisiana where she grew up. She talked often about her experiences in Sunrise. Where she taught at Port Allan High School after she graduated Lafayette University. The chickens that her grandmother raised. Playing on the porch because in a family of six siblings one was asked to play outside. Her sister Sue who would constantly ask her (did you hear that or what was that outside) when they were trying to sleep. She recounted trips the family would take to Grand Isle and picnics that her grandmother would fix on the levee. She talked about her High School friends who knew her best as (Jungle). Tarzan the movie had come out and she was known for giving quite the jungle call. She would get a mischievous look in her eyes when looking back at these days and you knew something fun was about to happen.
I found this in one of her notebooks.
“My shell has perfect shell shape
And it is colored precisely!!
It is a perfect shell”
Joan Leblanc
I think that about sums it up.
Her Family and friends have that special place in their heart for her. She will be greatly missed by all that she has left behind. She touched so many people’s lives. For online condolences, please visit www.nickersonfunerals.com.
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