CANTON – Jeanne “Joan” Knapp, 95, a resident of Victorian Villa, Canton, formerly of Jay, died unexpectedly early Tuesday, March 25, at the Villa.

She was born Sept. 16, 1912, in Rogersville, N.B., Canada, one of 14 children of Placide and Marie (Bourque) Doiron. In 1926, her family moved to Chisholm. She worked as a domestic for many families in Chisholm, helping to maintain their homes and care for their children.

In 1935, she married Francis “Pete” Ouellette. He died in November 1960. In 1973, she married Warren Knapp. He died in 1986. In addition to being a devoted wife and mother, she worked outside of the home at the Bean Factory and area shoe shops, including Livermore Shoe, Bass and Norwock. She also was employed at Forster Mfg. Co. in Strong.

She was a communicant of St. Rose of Lima Church, Jay and was a member of the Daughters of Isabella. She was a member and former treasurer of the Jay-Livermore Falls Senior Citizens, was a member of the Lane-Dube AMVETS Post Auxiliary and was a charter member and celebrated her 50-year membership in the Frank L. Mitchell VFW Post Auxiliary 10. She was a past-president and treasurer of the VFW Auxiliary and worked tirelessly as the cancer chairperson of this organization for many years. She dedicated many volunteer hours working on the Sunday evening cribbage tournaments to help in the fundraising efforts for the Cancer Society.

She was a spontaneous, energetic woman with a strong will and faith. Her thoughtful, generous nature endeared herself to her family and many friends such as Dottie and Chris.

She is survived by two daughters, Ann Marshall and her husband, Roland, of Mexico and Geraldine “Red” Ross and her husband, Arthur, of Jay; one son, Pat Ouellette of Tucson, Ariz.; stepchildren, Richard Knapp of Jay and Linda Dearborn of Greene; a sister, Catherine Larochelle of Jay; a brother, Patrick Doiron of Brunswick; a special niece, Nelda Bond of Fayette; 17 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; 12 great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was predeceased by two sons, Placide Ouellette and Gerald Ouellette; a grandson, David Faunce; brothers, Mathias, Arthur, Ernest, Clarence, Edmond, Joseph, Gerard, Frank and Henry; and sisters, Claudia Doiron and Agnes Hachey.