Joan M. Lessard

AUGUSTA – Joan M. Lessard, 89, passed away at the Lakewood Continuing Care Center in Waterville following a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease on Nov. 17, 2023. She was born on June 26, 1934, a daughter of Alfred and Julienne (Lessard) Lessard.

Joan grew up on the Sand Hill neighborhood in Augusta and attended St. Augustine School. She was a graduate of Cony High School.

Joan worked as a secretary for the State of Maine in the Department of Education and retired after many dedicated years of employment. She was a devout communicant of St. Augustine Church where she served as a Lector as well as a Eucharistic Minister and was a member of the Daughters of Isabella. Following her retirement, Joan worked at the Oblate House in Augusta where she was a leader of the Cursillo Movement. She also worked for a short time at the Bureau of Optometry.

In her spare time, Joan was a literacy volunteer. She thoroughly enjoyed traveling and was pleased to have gone to Hawaii three times! She also loved her trips to Canada and summer vacations in Old Orchard Beach.

Though Joan never had children, she treated her nieces and nephew as her own; spoiling them especially during Christmas brought her much joy. She enjoyed crocheting and knitting, gifting many baby blankets to friends and family. As she took care of her mother during her later years, Joan will be remembered as a devoted daughter, a caring sister, and loving aunt.

She was predeceased by her parents; and her siblings, Jeannine Gosselin, Joseph Lessard, and Elaine Carpentier.

She was known as Taunte Minou to her nieces and nephew: Michelle Carpentier, Pamela Looman (Ronald), Melissa Lagace (Donald), Jennifer Sandusky (Donald), and Bill Gosselin (Melissa); several great nieces and great nephews; and one great great nephew; and also several cousins.

The family would like to thank the staff at Lakewood for the wonderful care they provided for Joan.

There will not be any visiting hours. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, November 25, 2023 at 10am at St. Augustine Catholic Church, 75 Northern Ave., Augusta, ME 04330. Burial will follow at Holy Family Cemetery in Augusta.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Plummer Funeral Home, 16 Pleasant St., Augusta, ME 04330. Condolences, stories or photos may be shared by visiting http://www.plummerfh.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Joan’s name may be made to: Amedisys Foundation (AKA Beacon Hospice), 5 Community Dr., Augusta, ME 04330 or Alzheimer’s Association of Maine, 383 US-1 #2C, Scarborough, ME 04074.