Joan A. (Miara) Ruggiero, 82, of Plaistow, NH, and Acton, MA, died in hospice care on April 15, 2024, after a long struggle with heart disease. Born in Medford, MA, December 27, 1941, to Andrew Miara and Josephine (Bernat) Miara, Joan was married for 57 years to the late Ronald F. Ruggiero. She is predeceased by brother Richard Miara, and survived by brother, James Miara, and sister-in-law, Christine Miara, of Concord, MA, stepsister Ruth Kunyz and her husband Peter, of Londonderry, NH, and step brother Rev. Stephen Herbert of Birmingham, England, and numerous nephews, nieces, grand nephews and grandnieces. Joan graduated from Medford High School in 1958 and attended business school in Boston.  In 1972, she and her husband founded the Windham, NH based B&M Fence Co., a wholesale distributor of fencing materials. Joan served as the company's chief financial officer. B&M flourished and in 1990 was sold to a national firm.

Joan was a licensed pilot, flying her own plane based at the Lawrence, MA, airport. She was an accomplished calligrapher, teaching the craft and skillfully addressing wedding invitations as a gift to relatives and friends. She was also an energetic participant in community activities.

Family and friends are invited to a celebration of Joan's life at St. Christopher's Episcopal Church, 187 East Rd. Hampstead, NH, on Tuesday, April 23, 2024 at 10 a.m. Burial at Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford, MA, will follow at 1:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joan's name to St. Christopher's Episcopal Church, 187 East Rd., Hampstead, NH, 03841.