Joan Blast, RN

Joan Blast passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, October 1, 2025 with her son by her side. Born September 7, 1931 in Pontiac, Michigan, Joan was the daughter of the late Charles and Ruth Bevan, and wife of the late Daniel M. Blast. She leaves behind a sister Marjorie Carlon of Fowlerville, MI. She was the loving mother of the late Daniel B. Blast and leaves behind her sons Matthew Blast of Pepperell, MA and Jeffrey and his wife Yvette Blast of Winchendon, MA. Joan was the loving grandmother of Daniel and his wife Krista Blast of Dallas, TX, Joanne Blast of Garland, TX, Emily Blast of Greenfield, MA, Molly Blast of Groton, MA, and Joshua Blast of Groton, MA. She leaves behind 4 nephews.

Joan graduated from Hurley Hospital School of Nursing in Flint, MI in 1952. She worked as a Registered Nurse for most of her adult life, taking a pause from nursing when her children were very young. Her family moved to Winchendon, MA in 1975 and she was employed by the Winchendon Hospital and as a school nurse at Murdock High School. Later she was employed by the Fernald School in Templeton, MA and became a Nursing Supervisor where she remained until her retirement in 1995. After retirement Joan was a longtime volunteer at Henry Haywood Hospital in Gardner, MA and was an Ombudsman for local nursing homes.

Joan moved to Pepperell, MA in 2015 to be closer to her family. The main focus of her life became her children and grandchildren and she relished the time spent with them. She enjoyed the grandkids' music recitals and school sporting events and her smile was always bigger when they were visiting. She had a positive outlook on life and had a genuinely optimistic soul. The phrase "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it"...that was in her DNA.

Joan traveled the world with her best and lifelong friend Fay Harris of San Diego, CA where they experienced different cultures, met new friends and had lots of fun. Together they ascended in a hot air balloon over New Mexico. Always the adventurous type, Joan thought it would be exciting to parachute out of an airplane to mark her eightieth birthday. She proclaimed, "If George Bush can do it, I can do it", so... that's what she did. She intended to jump again to mark her ninetieth but her declining health wouldn't allow it.

Joan was also known as Susie by her friends (shortened from Susie Smith). After returning from a bad date back in her nursing school days, she entered her residence hall, clearly and announced to her roommates "If I ever go out with another man you can call me Susie Smith!" Well, enough of her classmate heard what she said and then the word got out. "Smith" got dropped eventually but "Susie" stuck for life, and she accepted her new name like it was her birth name. Whether known as mom, grandma, Joan, or Susie, she will be lovingly remembered as a woman with a heart of gold. She will be truly missed.

The family would like to thank:

Dr. Alfred Heinser for providing excellent and compassionate care to Joan for many years. You are so very kind. Thank you.

Dr. John Harrington, a long-term friend of Joan who worked with her going all the way back to the Fernald School days, and now is the Medical Director for Care Central VNA and Hospice. Thank you for your compassion and guidance.

Michelle Marion, Beth Streeter and Sam for their care and support to Joan for the 8 months she was with Central Care VNA and Hospice. You gave Joan the absolute best care and helped her stay in her home for the remainder of her life.

Kimber Reynolds, a long-term family friend. Thank you for the car rides to appointments, the grocery shopping, cleaning, and the fabulous meals. Most of all thank you for the love and support to Joan, the patience you showed when it became very difficult, the doting nature you had with her, the singing in her ear to make her smile. It worked! Thank you Kim.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Albert Harris Center, 37 Nashua Rd. Pepperell, MA 01463.