1928 - 2018
No Vistitation Date Scheduled
No Funeral Date Scheduled
Joanne Staples (nee Johanna Gertrude Beer) died on June 27th at home, in the loving care of her family and Merrimack Valley Hospice. She was born in Merseburg, and raised just outside of Heidelberg, Germany, the second of three girls, to Dr. Ernst Georg and Martha (Treskow) Beer. Her father escaped from Germany right before the war; she and her mother and sisters joined him in 1946. She met Paul Staples when they worked together on Star Island, where they married.Paul and Joanne raised their four daughters in Holliston and Manchester, MA. When Paul died, they had been married for sixty-three years.
Joanne (known to her family as Hanne) was a graduate of Simmons College, and a member of the final graduating class of Newton-Wellesley School of Nursing, returning to school in her fifties. After graduation she worked on the orthopedic floor of that hospital until her retirement.
She was active in each community she lived in, participating in the League of Women Voters, choir, bible study groups, and the RISE program at Rivier College. She co-led an exercise program for seniors in Dunstable until 2017.
She had a keen and discerning mind, loved to read, and took great pleasure in the natural world. She worked hard, and was kind and thoughtful all her life, caring greatly about those less fortunate than herself, especially refugees.
In addition to her husband, parents, and those she lost in Germany, Joanne was predeceased by her sister Renate (Sheldon) Greene, and grandson Jesse Kovacs. She leaves her sister Marianne (Arthur) Talis, daughters Rebecca (Jeffrey) Robertson, Cinta (Justin) Quinn, Renate Kovacs, Christine Staples (Joel Ager); grandchildren Renate, Michael (Chie), and Lucy Robertson, Corina Quinn, Nicholas (Cristin) Kovacs, Johanna Staples-Ager; and great-grandsons Rei and Henry. Nieces, nephews, and numerous friends will miss her. Please honor her with your own kindness.
marilyn sheridan
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Joanne personifies everything good about a person. She is funny and serious, feisty and kind, determined and loving, never accepting nonsense.
She introduced me to the RISE program, brought the exercise program to Dunstable , was a great recycler at the transfer station. Knowing her has been a pleasure.
Bruce and Liz Hulslander
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To Johanne’s Family:
Your mom was of the kindest, most fascinating women I have ever met. In all the years that Bruce and I had known her, she never uttered anything negative, always positive and encouraging whether dealing with us or our children or grandchildren. She was someone you wanted to emulate.
We are so sorry for your loss,
Bruce and Liz Hulslander
Kim and Paul Cushion
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Dear Family,
Joanne was a special person to Paul and I. We met with her on our walks on Pond Street and it was always our pleasure to stop and speak with her. She always asked about our lives and especially always took the time to ask about our children. Her sincere kindness and her smile is something we will never forget. It’s a great honor to have known her and may she Rest In Peace.
Lisa Grant
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My condolences to the family. I knew Joanne and Paul through working in activities at Westford House where Paul spent his final time. They were both beautiful people and I was blessed to have met and got to know them. Joanne was a very strong and courageous woman. May God’s peace comfort you during this difficult time. God bless – Lisa
Maureen Brohel
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Joanne was one of the smartest, strongest, most sincere and caring women that I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. I am so grateful to her for how kind she was to me when my husband died and for introducing me to Bone Builders. She was unique, and I will never ever forget her.