Joan H. (Barverchak) Hambleton

Joan H. (Barverchak) Hambleton passed away in her home in Merrimack, NH on December 9, 2022. Joan was born in Binghamton, NY on March 5, 1934, to John and Helen Barverchak of 3 May Street. She graduated from Central High School in 1952 after which she was employed at Clark Cleveland for fourteen years.

She and her future husband, Mark, met in Binghamton in August of 1966 while he was a sales representative for The Coca Cola Company. Mark was transferred to Maine, and they married in Portland three months to the day they met. They resided in West Falmouth for two years until another transfer sent them to Nashua, NH. Rebecca and Tamara, twin daughters, were born on December 5, 1969, and in 1971, the family moved to Merrimack, NH.

Joan began working in 1987 as a “para” at the Mastricola Middle School in Merrimack. She obtained the position of receptionist/secretary there in 1991 where she remained until her retirement in 2012. On her 75th birthday, three years before retirement, she sent the following to the school:

“You certainly presented me with a very special birthday celebration. It was great to see every one of you and our 687 students …. and in only one day. The children were so friendly and respectful. Would you please let them know how much I enjoyed their visits and wishes and how lucky I feel to be part of their school.”

In earlier years, Joan was a seamstress (making outfits for the girls), a member of the Nashua Mother of Twins Club, played the piano, enjoyed needlepoint and ceramics, completing puzzles with her granddaughter, Cailey, loved the flower gardens in the front yard, and over time, all four of the family’s golden retrievers (especially Jenny). The family are members of Faith Episcopal Church of Merrimack.

PERSPECTIVE, author unknown

I am standing on the seashore. A ship spreads her sails to the morning breeze and starts for the ocean. I stand watching her until she fades on the horizon and someone at my side says, “She is gone.”.

Gone where? The loss of sight is in me, not in her. Just at the moment when someone says, “She is gone.” there are others who are watching her coming. Other voices take up the glad shout. “Here she comes!”

And that is dying

Joan is survived by her husband of 56 years, Mark, her daughters Rebecca and Tamara, her greatest joy, Cailey, and their golden retriever, Sadie. Also, her sister Donna, David and Moira Hambleton, Peter and Diane Hambleton and their families.

She was predeceased by Laurie (Hambleton) Latvis and Tom Hambleton.

Service is private.

Please spend some time with a loved one, do something nice for someone else, and celebrate special moments with family and friends.