Joan "Joannie" Elinor Jensen

FALMOUTH - Joan Elinor (Miller) Jensen passed away peacefully on July 20, 2026 at the age of 93. Born in Portland in 1933 to George and Ruth (Wands) Miller, she was the middle child among nine children. Joannie, as she was known to family and friends, graduated from Deering High School in 1951 and married John Jensen of Falmouth in 1953. They welcomed son Michael and daughter Kathy in the following years.

 

Joan forged a remarkable career at a time when few women were advancing up the corporate ladder in banking. She started as a teller at the First Portland National Bank after high school, and advanced to branch manager and loan officer at Bank of America before her retirement. Her job supported herself and her husband while he was in college at the University of Maine in Orono, and she continued her banking career when she and John settled in Falmouth.

 

As a child, Joan spent many hours in the Woodfords branch of the Portland Public Library and was an avid reader throughout her life. In later years, she switched to audio books and enjoyed many hours listening to her favorite mysteries. In addition to reading, Joan usually had a jigsaw puzzle in progress, enjoyed word puzzles and pursued genealogy research on both the Miller and Jensen families.

 

Joan loved animals of all kinds. There was always a cat or two in her home. She kept her multiple bird feeders full and loved to watch the birds come and go.  She befriended several chipmunks over the years and even had a few that would climb into her hand for seeds. Her favorite birds were owls, and she acquired all kinds of owl figurines, paintings and other collectibles. She also loved to see the cardinals that came to her feeder. She supported a number of animal welfare and environmental charities over the years.

 

Joan and her husband also enjoyed fishing and made a pilgrimage to Big Lake each year for 30 years.  John was an avid fisherman and Joan liked to set up her pole and read in the sunshine until she got a bite on her line. They enjoyed their time at Big Lake very much and Joan made lifelong friends there.

 

Music was one of her great joys. Joan loved to sing and was a member of the Falmouth Congregational Church Choir for many years. She also sang with the women’s Sweet Adelines chorus. She loved movie musicals and would often sing show tunes as she worked around the house.

 

Joan was predeceased by her husband John, son Michael, and siblings Sally West, Marcia Lovejoy, Dorothy Bodwell, Robert Miller, Judith Francis, Virginia Mushrow, and David Miller. She is survived by her daughter Kathy, granddaughter Lauren, brother William Miller, and many nieces and nephews.

 

A memorial service followed by a reception will be held at the Falmouth Congregational on September 26, 2026 at 11 AM.  In lieu of flowers, friends may choose to remember Joan through support of the Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, UT, the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland or another local animal welfare charity.