Joan Frances (Martin) Turcotte, affectionately known as Joni, passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 4, 2026 at Palm Springs Nursing Home in Chelmsford. She was 87 years old, born on July 9, 1938 and was a daughter of the late William and Anna (McLellan) Martin. She was raised in Lowell, where she attended the area schools, graduation from Lowell High School with the class of 1955.
After graduation, Joni worked for New England Telephone and Telegraph Company. In 1960, she married James C. Turcotte with whom she shared 46 years of marriage before he passed away.
Joni was extremely artistic, known for her work as a doll maker and folk art painter. She was also known for her quick wit. For her 80th birthday, she took a solo trip to Key West in her remodeled van.
She found great solace in spending summers at her son Robert and his wife Mary’s beach cottage in North Hampton, New Hampshire. She especially looked forward to spending a week with the “Beach Gang” on 11th Street in North Hampton.
Together they had four children, William J. Turcotte and his wife Virginia (Mello) of Londonderry, NH, Lynne C. Teichert and her husband, John, of Lowell, Robert D. Turcotte and his wife, Mary (Bamford) of Allenstown, NH, and Daniel P. Turcotte and his wife, Karen (DeBonville) of Manchester, NH; 3 grandchildren, Nicholas Turcotte and his fiancé, Heather Tourville of Derry, NH, Elissa Turcotte Luna of Londonderry, NH and Katherine Turcotte Laflamme and her husband, Matthew of Allenstown, NH; 3 great grandchildren Ayva Turcotte, Adelaide Laflamme, Isabelle Laflamme; and her ‘other favorite kid’, Debra (Pelland) Moreau.
She is also survived by her doting brother, William Martin of Chelmsford; her sister in law, Ann Marie Martin of Lowell and her friend since childhood, Fran Smith of Hyannis, and her close friend, Pat Costa of Bristol. She also leaves many wonderful and loving nieces and nephews, and friends from up North in Bristol, NH where she lived for 19 years.
She was sister of the late Robert D. Martin, and sister in law of the late Kathleen Martin.
The family would like to express their sincere gratitude for the exceptional care she received at Palm Springs – A Wing in Chelmsford, to her nurse, Arlene, at Tufts Hospice, and to her favorite PA, Tarina Mansur, at Mill City Medical. The compassion and care she received were truly outstanding.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Arrangements by McDonough Funeral Home, 14 Highland Street, Lowell 978-458-6816. Find us on Facebook or use this website to leave the family a message of condolence.