Joan Palavras

Joan (I’Anson) Palavras, devoted wife of the late James Palavras, passed away on Feb 11, 2026 at the Carriage Green Memory Care Unit in Milford, CT. Joan was born in 1938 in Lowell, MA, the daughter of the late Harold and Hazel I’Anson. She grew up in Lowell and graduated from Lowell High School, which is where she met her future husband, to whom she was married for 65 years.

Joan was a stay-at-home mother, housewife, and hockey mom for many years, before joining the staff of the Chelmsford school system. There she worked in a variety of administrative jobs, and was serving as the secretary to the Parker School principal when she retired.

Joan was an avid gardener, a great cook, and a devout member of St. Philip Greek Orthodox Church in Nashua. But the most important aspect of Joan’s life was family and friends. She loved to entertain, was the first one to give a helping hand to anyone who needed it, and was much loved by all who knew her for her kind and gentle ways.

Joan is survived by her son, James Palavras, and his long-time partner Robin Helburn of Milford, CT; her sisters-in-law Jean Kasparian of Tyngsboro, MA and Ruth I’Anson of Nashua, NH; her nephews Scott I'Anson and his wife Bonnie of Pelham, NH, Bruce Burns of New Ipswich, NH, David Kasparian and his wife Lisa of Dover, Michael Kasparian and his wife Kim of Carlisle; her nieces Lauren I'Anson of Apex, NC and Brenda Bellerose of Garner, NC; and many great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins. She is also survived by life-long friends George Karakantas of Nashua, NH and Christoper Simorellis of Lowell.

Joan was predeceased by her sister, Ruth Burns of Lowell, her brother, Harold I’Anson of Chelmsford, and her dear friend Helen Karakantas of Nashua.

Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, from 9 am – 10:30 am at the Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home, 24 Worthen St., Chelmsford. Her funeral service will be held at 11 am in the funeral home following the visitation. Interment in Pine Ridge Cemetery, Chelmsford.