Obituary: Joan G. Lamere
August 15, 1944 - October 2, 2022
Joan G. Lamere. courtesy photo
Joan Lamere, 78, of Waterbury Center died on October 2, 2022, at her home surrounded by several relatives and friends. She was born August 15, 1944, in St. Albans, Vermont, to G. Wayne Cross and Madeline (Ouimet) Cross.
She graduated valedictorian from Swanton High School class of 1962 and was its class president for all four years. In 1966 she graduated from the University of Vermont where she was a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority and where she met her husband, Richard “Skip” Lamere.
She subsequently taught at the elementary school level for several years before going to work for the State of Vermont, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. Joan later earned a masters degree in counseling and guidance from UVM, and was the casework supervisor of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Barre Region which included St. Johnsbury, Newport and Morrisville. Joan also coordinated services for people who are deaf and worked in the Agency of Human Services Training Unit.
After retiring from state government, she opened her own employee assistance service and had contracts with several major companies in Central Vermont. She later joined Skip in his retirement business, Vermont Strings (producer of strings for folk harps), where she did everything except make the strings until she became ill.
Among other community activities, she served on the Board of Directors of Project Independence in Barre and was its chairperson for several years seeing it through a tough time. She also served on the Board of Directors of Washington County Mental Health and was its chairperson for several years.
Joan enjoyed all animals, cooking, being with grandnephews and nieces, travel, painting in oil, photography, and spending time with family and friends, especially at the camper on Lake Champlain.
Joan is survived by her husband, Skip Lamere of Waterbury Center; her sister Jean (Michael) LaMoy of Menifee, California; brother Mark (Gloria) Cross; son-in-law Eric Stallings of Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusestts; brother-in-law Walter Lamere of West Burke; sisters-in-law Phyllis Robinson of Mt. Laguna, California, and Jeannine Kneeland of Burlington, Vermont; and her dear nephews and nieces – Brent LaMoy, Jason Kneeland, Torrey Gallagher, Jared Lamere, and their families. Joan was predeceased by her parents and by her beloved daughter Kelly Stallings.
Services were to be held on Friday, Oct. 7, at 11 a.m. at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, 109 South Main St., Waterbury, with a reception following at the Parish Hall under arrangement by Perkins-Parker Funeral Home. Interment was to follow at the Maple Street Cemetery in Waterbury Center.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the following fund established for small animal care and adoption needs in memory of Joan Lamere, Kelly’s mother: The Kelly Rae Stallings Fund online at nhspca.org/special-giving/ or mail to New Hampshire SPCA, 104 Portsmouth Ave., Stratham, NH 03885; 603-772-2921. Also the Kelly Stallings Special Medical Needs Fund online at secure.northeastanimalshelter.org/donations/kelly_fund/ or mail to Northeast Animal Shelter, 347 Highland Ave., Salem, MA 01970; 978-745-9888.