Joanne Noble Lane '57

Joanne Raye (Noble) Lane, beloved mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away on December 20, 2023, at the age of 85.

Joanne was born on July 2, 1938, in Fryeburg, Maine, to Raymond and Norma (Seavey) Noble and was raised primarily in Brownfield She graduated from Fryeburg Academy in 1957 and in August of that year, married David Lane, her husband of 66 years. After residing briefly in Georgia while David was in the Navy, the couple returned to settle in Brownfield, where they raised 3 daughters – Deborah (Butler), Cheryl (Baker), and Alicia (Guilford). While raising her children, Joanne attended the University of Maine at Portland Gorham, where she pursued a degree in education. She worked as a preschool teacher and, later, a factory worker in the wood products industry, but she spent over two decades as a certified nursing assistant, and later, a Certified Medication Technician at the Fryeburg Health Care Center. She loved working with the elderly and many of her coworkers became lifelong friends.

Joanne was also a crafter who always had at least one project underway---quilts, sweaters, Afghans, and the infamous, ever-expanding, Christmas stockings, each one bigger than the last, that she knit for each new grandchild. Shewa’s also an avid reader and enjoyed crossword puzzles and Sudoku. Joanne’s faith was very important to her, and she enjoyed attending church. She loved to travel and accompanied friends and family members on trips near and far, visiting amusement parks, zoos, most of the country’s national parks and twice visiting the Holy Land. She also loved animals and had many special cats and dogs over the years, most recently, her dogs Serge, Eddie, and Abbey. Joanne thoroughly enjoyed goofing around with her grandkids, especially on long road trips, helping them conspire new ways to irritate their parents.

Joanne was preceded in death by her parents, an infant son (David Raymond), infant granddaughter (Lisa Joyce), and granddaughter, (Ronni Marie). She is survived by her husband, David; daughters Deborah (Butler), Cheryl (Baker), and Alicia (Guilford); her brother, Millard Arnold (Arnie) Noble and his wife, Dot; grandchildren Angela, Michael, Anthony, Daniel, Melissa, Crystal, Casey, and Cody; and 21 great-grandchildren.

A celebration of life will be held in the spring (date and time to be determined). In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Harvest Hills Animal Shelter in Joanne’s memory. Arrangements are under care of Wood Funeral Home, 9 Warren St, Fryeburg, ME 04037.