Joan E. Stephenson

WINCHENDON – Joan E. (Fagerstrom) Stephenson, 80, of 344 School Street, died peacefully Sunday morning, February 21, 2021 at her home, with her family at her side.

She was born in Gardner on April 3, 1940, daughter of the late William and Alta (Mann) Fagerstrom and was a graduate of Gardner High School.  She had been a resident of Winchendon for many years.

Joan had worked at Simplex Time Recorder, Leo P. LaChance Center as a nurses’ aide and then Cumberland Farms in Winchendon before joining her husband at Papa Jim’s Hot Dog Stand, which was in operation from 1989 until 2007.  Their business grew to the degree, where thousands of residents stopped in their years of operation to sample 40 varieties of hot dogs.  Joan loved spending time with her family and her dog Owen.

Her husband of 41 years, James E. “Papa Jim” Stephenson, died in 2010.  She leaves her children, Susan L. Bergevin of Baldwinville, William J. Daneault and his wife Donna Zenkus-Daneault of Auburn, Shawn M. Stephenson of Winchendon, Dawn M. Jones and husband Keith of Sparta, TN, Jason E. Daneault of Winchendon and Tara M. Pelkey of Gardner; three stepchildren, James E. Stephenson Jr of Gardner, Robert Stephenson and wife Stephanie of Colorado and Vicki L. White of Greenfield; ten grandchildren, nine great grandchildren and one great great granddaughter.  A daughter, Kathleen M. Daneault, predeceased her.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 27, 2021 at 11 A.M. in Stone-Ladeau Funeral Home, 343 Central Street, Winchendon. To view funeral services please click on https://webcasts.lifetributes.com/1123692 .

Calling hours will precede the service Saturday from 9 to 11 A.M.

Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery in the spring.

Memorial donations may be made to Care Central VNA and Hospice, 34 pearly Lane, Gardner, MA 01440.

www.stone-ladeau.com