Joan Knowlton LaFrance, 73, of Warren, died Nov. 11 at LincolnHealth – Miles Campus in Damariscotta, following an extended illness.
Born in Owls Head, Sept. 5, 1941, she was the daughter of David O. and Margaret Everett Knowlton. She attended the Ingraham Hill School in Owls Head and was a 1959 graduate of Rockland High School. While in high school, she enjoyed playing basketball and was very good at it.
Throughout her life she was an accomplished seamstress, sewing many of her family’s clothes. She loved the ocean and swimming and enjoyed entertaining at her pool in Cushing. Ice skating was one of her favorite activities along with listening to music and collecting Disney movies, recently taking a trip with her family to Walt Disney World.
While working at the former F.W. Woolworth & Co. in Rockland, Joan met Wilmer ‘Kit’ LaFrance, beginning a romance that would last a lifetime. The couple was married Oct. 28, 1962.
In pursuit of her husband’s employment as a sales manager, they lived in Connecticut and Massachusetts. Returning to Owls Head, they made their first home on Knowlton Avenue, where they raised their family. In 1988, they moved to Cushing, where they built their dream home on Lovers Lane.
For many years, Joan worked side-by-side with her husband. They owned and operated Waldoboro Five & Ten, the Remnant Rug Rack in Rockland, and Kit’s Carpets in Cushing. In recent years she resided in Jefferson and for the past 18 months, lived with her daughter and son-in-law, Loretta and Randy Hooper.
Joan was a devoted mother and grandmother, who more than anything, enjoyed spending time with her family. This included many happy hours at the LaFrance family cottage on Crawford Pond.
She enjoyed knitting and loved to travel and go on cruises. She had a special place in her heart for her dogs Tasha and Haley. Her family remembered her wonderful cooking and said they particularly enjoyed her ‘mac & cheese’ and sheet cakes. Holidays and Christmas were special times for Joan and she enjoyed decorating her home for each holiday.
Joan was looking forward with excitement to the birth of her 11th grandchild, due in May.
In addition to her parents, Joan was predeceased by her husband Kit in 2005; son, Christopher M. LaFrance in 2014; brother, David O. Knowlton II; and sisters, Marion Robbins, Barbara Deabler, and Linda Stanley.
She is survived by son, Scott J. LaFrance and wife Shanon of Cushing; daughters, Loretta S. Hooper and husband Randall of Warren, Liz L. Warren and companion Steve Chase of Rockport, Jennifer M. LaFrance and companion Mark Eugley of Damariscotta, and Amy E. Tarbox and husband Matt of Falmouth; grandchildren, Sammantha, Krista, Jared, Allison, Brady, Evan, Cadence, Meggan, Tyler, and Bentley; great-grandchild, MacKenzie; sisters and their husbands, Betty and Oliver Curtis of Owls Head, Judith and William McCoy of Belmont, N.H., and Brenda and Greg Kaler of South Thomaston; as well as many nieces and nephews.
A celebration of Joan’s life will be held at 11 a.m., Mon., Nov. 17 at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock St., Rockland.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Multiple System Atrophy Coalition, 9935-D Rea Rd., No. 212, Charlotte, NC 28277; or American Heart Association, 51 US Route One, Suite M, Scarborough, ME 04074.
To share a memory or condolence with Joan’s family, please visit her Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.
