Joan C. Stephenson, 90

GILFORD — Joan Carol (Parker) Stephenson, 90, passed away peacefully in her Gilford, home on May 29, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family.

She was born Dec. 28, 1935, in New Jersey, to Herberta Austin (Morse) and John Selden Parker Sr. She had an older brother, John Selden Parker Jr., and a younger brother, Gordon Morse Parker. She graduated with a two-year degree from Centenary College for Women in 1955.

Joan and John “Jack” Wentworth Stephenson married in New Jersey, on June 25, 1955, then drove across the U.S. to southern California, where her new husband started a job at Hughes Aircraft Co. and began a backpack equipment company, which she helped him with along with being a homemaker and raising their four children. She enjoyed hiking, skiing, sailing, camping, and square dancing in California.

In 1975, they moved, along with the business, to Gilford, and had a large home and shop built on the north side of a hill with a wonderful view of Lake Winnipesaukee. She joined the Gilford Community Church choir where she sang (beautifully) for the rest of her life. She taught the youth choir there for several years as well as singing with several other secular musical groups. She continued to enjoy hiking, skiing, sailing, as well as traveling in and outside of the USA. She loved gardens, animals, nature and photography. She became the “photographer” for the Opechee Garden Club.

She was a quiet, gentle friend to many people and helped to transport many of her friends to church and other events.

She was predeceased by her loving husband of 61 years, Jack Stephenson, and their daughter Beverly Stephenson, as well as her parents and brothers.

She is survived by her daughter Laura Jean (Stephenson) and her husband Richard Holdaway, their daughter Melinda (Holdaway) and her husband Randy and their sons Aaron and Kevin Rousselle, and son Scott Holdaway; her son Eric and his wife Michelle and their sons Christopher and Jeremy Stephenson; and her son William Stephenson who has taken wonderful, loving care of her.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 11, at the Gilford Community Church, 19 Potter Hill Road.

Because of the lifelong love that she and her husband had for animals, the family asks that, in lieu of flowers, a donation to the New Hampshire Humane Society, P.O. Box 572, Laconia, NH 03247, would be greatly appreciated.

Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services/603Cremations.com, 164 Pleasant St., Laconia, is assisting the family with arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial, visit wilkinsonbeane.com.