Joanne Hilda Evans, 90, passed away peacefully on Aug. 25, 2026, in Lynn. Born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, she was the daughter of the late Samuel L. and Hilda Braas Evans and was the last surviving member of her immediate family.
Joanne lived most of her adult life in Marblehead, where she shared more than 50 years with her dear friend, Johanna Young. The friendships she formed, the activities she enjoyed and the many memories she created in Marblehead were among the most cherished parts of her life.
Joanne devoted her life to nursing, with a particular passion for education, scholarship and excellence in the profession. The breadth of her accomplishments is reflected in her 10-page curriculum vitae.
After graduating from Manheim Township High School in her hometown of Lancaster, Joanne continued her education, earning degrees from Lankenau Hospital School of Nursing in Philadelphia, Elizabethtown College in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, and the Boston University School of Nursing. She completed her scholarly education by earning an Ed.D. from Peabody College of Vanderbilt University.
Although most of Joanne’s professional career was devoted to academia, it was firmly grounded in years of clinical nursing experience. Her professional positions included five years with the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland; five years in the Neurology and Neurosurgery Unit at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Boston; and a graduate practicum in the spinal cord injury unit at Boston University Hospital.
Joanne was a founding faculty member of the School of Nursing at Salem State University. During her 34 years at the university, she advanced from instructor to professor and chairperson. Upon her retirement, she was honored with the title of professor emerita. She was also a charter member of the Eta Tau Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing at Salem State.
Capping her distinguished professional career, Joanne served as program coordinator and lecturer for the International Summer Study Program for nursing students, held at Salem State in partnership with the Red Cross Hiroshima College of Nursing. She was invited to Hiroshima, Japan, on three occasions as a guest lecturer for nursing students at the Red Cross Hiroshima College.
Joanne’s love of and expertise in rehabilitation nursing extended well beyond Salem State. She served as New England regional editor for the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses Core Curriculum for certification of rehabilitation nurses. She was also appointed to and served for many years on the Stroke Connection Healthcare Advisory Panel of the Stroke Association of the American Heart Association.
Her professional accomplishments included numerous articles published in academic journals, an extensive list of presentations to her professional peers, and many honors and awards. Among them were the Excellence in Nursing Education Award from the Massachusetts Association of Registered Nurses and the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Lankenau Hospital School of Nursing.
Joanne believed deeply in supporting the next generation of nurses. She established and funded the Dr. Joanne H. Evans Nursing Faculty Fund through the Salem State University Foundation, providing support for the School of Nursing to bring speakers of interest and value to its faculty.
Faith was also an important part of Joanne’s life. She grew up attending Redeemer Lutheran Church in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and later became a member of Clifton Lutheran Church in Marblehead. She was deeply involved in the life of the congregation, sponsoring, volunteering and enjoying its music and arts. She was instrumental in organizing many of the church’s annual festivals and served in leadership roles. She was a beloved and valued member of the Clifton Lutheran community.
Joanne was an accomplished athlete from an early age, participating in many sports in high school, including basketball. Her love of athletics continued throughout her life. Winters were often spent skiing, particularly at Mad River Glen, where Johanna had a lodge and hosted numerous ski weekends for family and friends. Summers brought golf and boating from Marblehead Harbor. These activities, along with many others, were often shared with Johanna’s extended family, who became like family to Joanne.
There was much more to Joanne than her professional achievements and love of sports. She loved to celebrate, play board and card games, and had a gift for writing poetry. She enjoyed the theater and the symphony and held season tickets to the North Shore Music Center for many years. She embraced life with enthusiasm, curiosity, friendship and a wonderful sense of fun.
The family extends heartfelt thanks to Joanne’s dear friend, Mary Farrell, for her many years of friendship and devoted support during Joanne’s later years.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend a Celebration of Joanne’s Life at Clifton Lutheran Church, 150 Humphrey St., on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 1 p.m., with the Reverend James D. Bixby officiating. The service will be live streamed at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83802437471. Interment will take place at a later date at Greenwood Cemetery in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Leigh BlanderLeighBlanderEdit Profile
