Joan Ellen Slade Desgroseilliers, of East Kingston, New Hampshire died on June 24th, with her husband and best friend of nearly 60 years, David, and their children, Marc and Andrea, and grandchildren by her side.
Joan was born in 1947, to Daniel Slade and Janet Barton Slade, of Manchester, MA, where she was raised with her two brothers, Danny and David. Her brother reports that although the boys got in trouble, Joan was always an angel. Growing up in Manchester, she developed a love of sports, her church, and Girl Scouts - these were important to her throughout her life.
After graduation from Westbrook College, she moved to Boston where she met her soon-to-be husband, David. After a year of dating, and many adventures in his Austin Healey, they married and soon settled down in Tyngsborough, MA where they raised their two children, Marc and Andrea. While in Tyngsborough, she was very active in scouts. She spent summers at Camp Kiwanis as the waterfront director and was also a scout leader. Joan loved to travel and took her scouts on many trips including trips to Mexico, Alaska, Canada, Georgia and out west to explore the national parks. She received many awards and recognition for her 73 years of involvement and service in scouting.
During their marriage, Joan and David traveled all over the country, visiting all but one state (North Dakota). She also planned incredible family trips including canyoneering and white-water rafting in Colorado, hot air ballooning and zip lining in Utah, catamaran sailboat rides in Bermuda, horseback riding on the edge of the Grand Canyon, and exploring many national parks throughout the country. Just days after stopping her cancer treatment and a week before going on hospice, she traveled to Newport, RI for a girls’ weekend with her daughter, daughter-in-law and granddaughters. She had an incredible time and even bought a bikini top (although we aren’t sure where she intended to wear it).
Joan was a nurse and showed compassion to her patients both in the hospital setting and as a one-on-one nurse for children in the school setting. Upon retiring Joan and Dave spent summers at their lake house on Hermit Lake, in Sanbornton, NH and winters at their little house in the desert, in Tucson, Arizona. She enjoyed an active lifestyle, playing pickleball and bike riding while in Tucson, and kayaking, camping and hiking while in NH. Their six grandchildren loved visits to Arizona (especially when it was cold in NH) and summers at the lake at “Camp Nanny.”
In 2011, Joan was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. She battled cancer for nearly 15 years. During this time, she continuously received treatments including chemotherapy, stem cell transplant, radiation and countless trials. Although she often spent several days a week at the cancer centers, she never once complained. Many friends and family members would tell you that she is the strongest person they knew. As her disease progressed, she was no longer able to continue with her hiking and pickleball. However, with a smile on her face, she found a new love - music and her ukelele. Joan played with a few different music groups in NH and AZ. She enjoyed weekly practices, community performances, and made many amazing friends along the way.
Joan’s love of trip planning and travel continued despite her illness. She planned individual trips for each of her six grandchildren, Bryan, Katie, Lily, Conor, Gage and Noah. These trips took them all over the country. Each trip was a mystery itinerary for the grandchild, but all planned around their interests and passions. Five of the six grandchildren’s trips were planned and occurred in between cancer treatments. Cancer was not going to slow her down.
Joan was a friend to everyone. If you knew her, I am sure you received a friendly visit, a card in the mail, a plate of baked goods (friends called her the “Cookie Lady”), or a small gift - just because she was thinking of you.
Wherever they lived, Joan and Dave were active member of their parishes and volunteered with St. Vincent de Paul. She was most recently a parishioner of St. Michael’s in Exeter, NH and brought communion to those in her community who couldn’t attend weekly mass.
Joan is survived by her husband and best friend, David, their two children, Marc Slade Desgroseilliers and Andrea Lee Sennott, their spouses, Paula and Sean, her beloved grandchildren, Bryan, Katherine, Lily, Conor, Gage and Noah, her brother David, many nieces and nephews, and countless friends. She was predeceased by her parents and brother Danny.
Visitation will be held from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 2, 2026 in the Remick & Gendron Funeral Home-Crematory, 811 Lafayette Road, Hampton NH. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 3, 2026, in St. Michael parish, 9 Lincoln Street, Exeter, NH 03833. Burial will be private.
Joan truly lived life to the fullest and squeezed every bit of joy out of life, right until the end. She will be missed terribly. In her honor, please stay in touch with your friends, visit the sick, plan a trip, help those in need, and enjoy every moment with your family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to any of the following: St. Vincent de Paul, food pantries, Girl Scouts of America, or a local women’s shelter.
