Windsor, VT- Joan Irene(Matheson) Lemire, 78, passed away surrounded by family after a long and courageous battle with Huntington's Disease at her home in Windsor, VT on February 13th​, 2020.

She was born at home in Northfield Falls, VT on March 12th​, 1941, the daughter of Beatrice (Shea) and Douglas Matheson. She grew up in Northfield the 4th of 11 children.

Joan graduated from Northfield High School, Class of 1959 and went on to do secretarial work. She married Arthur Lemire on May 28th,1966 which was the start of a 53 year marriage that included the raising of two daughters.

Raising her daughters and taking care of her family was Joan's true passion in life. She was incredibly selfless always putting the needs and wants of others over any personal ambition. She enjoyed cooking, arts and crafts, relaxing in the sun joking around, and her coffee. She loved spending time with her brothers and sisters with family cookouts and summer camping trips all being very important to her. She was a loving wife, mother, sister, aunt, and grandmother.

She worked in the library at Windsor High School from 1989 until her retirement in 2006.

Joan was surprisingly diagnosed with Huntington's Disease in 2002 starting a 17 year battle. She never complained and worked hard to persevere through extremely hard circumstances. During this time, Joan was forced to let others help her and give back the selflessness that she had bestowed on so many. She fought this disease daily seemingly willing herself to continue to be with her family, to watch her grandchildren grow up, and to be able to attend one more family event.

Survivors include her husband, Arthur Lemire, of Windsor, VT; her daughter, Laura Balch, and her son-in-law Greg, of Hartland, VT; her daughter, Sandra Lemire of Windsor, VT; her sister, Laurel Gaboriault, of Northfield, VT; her sister, Francine Eurbin, of Lancaster, California; her brother, Robert (Bud) Matheson of Berlin, VT; her sister, Helen Slocum, of Roxbury, VT; her sister, Sandra Stearns, of Windsor, VT; her sister, Lorraine O'Grady, of Cornish, NH; her granddaughters, Chloe, Sadie, and Lucy Balch of Hartland, VT; and her grandson, Seth Balch of Hartland VT; and many nieces and nephews.

Joan was predeceased by her parents, sisters Beatrice (Dolly) Abar and Margaret (Peg) Swinyer, and brothers Frank and John Matheson. Calling hours will be 6-8 Tuesday at Knights Funeral Home in Windsor, VT. The funeral services will be Wednesday 11:00 at St. Francis Church in Windsor, VT. Committal services will be in the spring. Donations can be made on Joan's behalf to the Huntington's Disease Society of America at hdsa.org or to Visiting Nurse and Hospice of VT & NH at vnhcare.org/donate.