Joan Harp

Joan Harp, 92, passed away peacefully on July 6, 2026. Born on November 20, 1933, in St. Louis, Missouri, she was the daughter of the late Carl and Laura Hutchinson.

After spending her formative years in St. Louis, Joan's marriage to Charles Harp brought her to Berea, Ohio, and then many years later, her career at 3M relocated her to St. Paul, Minnesota. She enjoyed a long and successful career at 3M, moving up the ranks from secretary to a Marketing and Sales Representative until her retirement.

In 2003, Joan relocated to Massachusetts to support her daughter through graduate school and then to South Hadley in 2007.

Adventurous at heart, Joan learned to fly planes as a young woman and carried that same spirit of curiosity throughout her life. She loved spending time outdoors, found joy in reading, and held a deep, lifelong affection for animals—especially the many dogs and cats she cared for over the years. A strong believer in animal rights and rehabilitation, Joan advocated passionately for the wellbeing of all creatures.

In addition to her parents, Joan was preceded in death by her former husband, Charles Harp; her daughters, Phyllis Lee and Laurie Harp; and her brother, Lon Douglas. She leaves behind her daughter, Susan Harp, and her beloved grandson, Satchel Harp-Monseau, who will forever cherish her love, sense of humor and sense of adventure.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, July 9, 2026, at the Beers & Story South Hadley Funeral Home, with visitation from 4:00–5:30 p.m. and words of remembrance shared at 5:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family strongly requests that donations be made in Joan’s memory to Dakin Humane Society in Springfield or to a pet-related charity of your choice, in honor of her lifelong devotion to animals.