JOAN B. NELSON, PORTAGE LAKE, ME – Joanne B. Nelson, 77, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on April 12, 2017. Known to many as “Ma,” “Granny,” or “Gran,” she was born on July 11, 1939, in Lewiston, ME.
Joanne spent her earlier years in Lisbon Center, ME. During that time she enjoyed teaching Sunday school and was a professional seamstress and a long time foster mom. “Ma”, as a lot of neighborhood children often called her, always opened her home to them. Gran was always one to see the true heart of someone who others thought weren’t worth the time of day. After she moved to Portage Lake in the 1970s, you may have seen her working side-by-side with her sons in the family roofing and siding business. A few of her hobbies included gardening, baking, reading, and she served on the Ashland School Board for many years.
Joanne is survived by her two daughters; Amy Collins, and husband Jim, of Portage Lake, and Katina Lavertu of Ocala, Florida; two sons; Garry Nelson, and wife Debbie, of Mapleton, and Otis Nelson, and wife Ginger, of Portage Lake; daughter-in-law Nancy Reardon, of Mount Holly, NJ; 13 grandchildren; Natasha (Nelson) Turner, Robert Nelson III, Jacob Nelson, Serena (Collins) Bonville, James Collins Jr., Alicia Collins-Howes, Garry Nelson Jr., Isaac Nelson, Robert Lavertu, Autumn Lavertu, Otis Nelson Jr., Kassandra Nelson, and Samantha Nelson; 14 great-grandchildren; and 9 siblings.
In addition to her parents, former husband, and significant other, Joanne was predeceased by her son, Robert I. Nelson II and her brother Fred Smith.
Per her request, there will be no services. Cards of condolences and donations in her memory may be sent to her daughter, Amy Collins, PO Box 45, Portage, ME 04768 to help with her funeral expenses. Online condolences may be expressed at
www.duncan-graves.com.
