Obituary of Joan Peabody Granger

Brunswick and Dexter – Joan, 86, died peacefully in the early morning hours of Friday, January 22nd in Pemaquid. She was born September 5, 1929 in Gloucester, MA to Samuel S. and Helen C. Peabody. Joan was raised in Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA and Wenham, MA. She graduated from Beverly High School and Tufts University's Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene in Boston. In December of 1952 Joan married James Packard Granger in Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA. She worked as a dental hygienist in Salem, MA and later in Topsham, ME. Joan gave quietly and lovingly to her community, serving the First Parish Church, Scouts, Home Extension, the Red Cross blood drives, the Senior Citizens' Center (precursor to People Plus), Dexter Historical Society, MidCoast Hospital, and many dear individuals. She created innumerable masterpieces in her small kitchen, knitted and sewed many choice garments, tended the cheeriest gardens, painted delicate watercolors, devoured a vast assortment of books, and celebrated the outdoors with her husband Jim in every kind of weather. Together she and Jim biked thousands of miles both around the lake at their summer home in Dexter and across hill, dale, river, and mountain in various corners of Europe. They also enjoyed many springtimes in Pinehurst, NC during their retirement years. Joan was predeceased by her husband Jim, brother Samuel S. Peabody III, and sister Edna Peabody. Joan is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Annie and Jock Winchester of Pemaquid, and her son and daughter-in-law Jim and Liz Granger of Brunswick, her sister Ann Sears of Pennsylvania, her granddaughter Jenny Granger and Jenny's husband Jake Anderson of Brunswick, her grandson Travis Granger of Texas, six great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. A celebration of Joan and Jim's lives will take place in the spring. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to The ALS Association, Northern New England Chapter, 10 Ferry St., Suite 309, Concord, NH 03301, or online at www.alsanne.org.