Joan M. Churas

Joan M. Churas, 90, of Manchester, died peacefully at home on March 23, 2018. She was born in Franklin, NH on May 10, 1927 to Joseph and Yvonne (Miquelon) Mercier. She graduated from Franklin High School and lived in Manchester for over 65 years.

Family meant the world to Joan. She raised nine children, and her family has now grown to more than sixty people. She truly enjoyed Thanksgiving dinners and summer parties in Bradford, NH because it meant everyone was together. The annual birthday lunch at the Wentworth by the Sea was a special day for her and her daughters. Her 36 grandchildren and great grandchildren were the light of her life, and she never missed an opportunity to be a part of their lives. She was called "Mom", "Nana", "Great Nana", "Joanie", but we all knew her as a saint, matriarch and the heart of the family.

Joan loved to travel. Her fondest memories included annual vacations in Bermuda with her husband Frank, exploring Europe with his sister Eileen, and many summer trips to Ogunquit ME to walk the Marginal Way. She enjoyed pottery and crocheting, but her greatest passion was painting. For over 30 years, she enjoyed creating Towle paintings for her family; these pieces will be treasured.

Joan was predeceased by her husband of 56 years, Frank A. Churas in 2003, three siblings: Andrew Mercier, Gloria Sawicki and Eileen LaRocca, her son-in-law Richard Girard and grandson Andy Brown. The love of her life were her nine children, Tom Churas (Diane), Nancy Girard, Cindy Lavigne (Ron), Diane Brown (Kenneth), John Churas (Kim), Patty-Jo Churas, Carolyn Boucher (Jeff), Karen Newville (Todd) and Kathy Boisse (Roger). She has 20 beautiful grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren; two siblings, George Mercier (Sue) and Joyce Allan (Huntley); and many nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Wednesday, March 28, 2018 at St. Catherine Church, 267 Webster St., Manchester. Committal prayers followed at Mt. Calvary Mausoleum, 474 Goffstown Rd., Manchester. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to New Horizons for NH, 199 Manchester St., Manchester, NH 03101 or the Alzheimer's Association, 166 S. River Rd., Suite 210, Bedford, NH 03110.