Joan Copeland (Nye) Hutchinson, 95, passed away peacefully July 11, 2015 at Pleasant Valley Nursing Center in Derry, New Hampshire. Born in Boston, MA December 7, 1919, the only child to Allen and Florence(Nudd) Nye, she was predeceased by her husband, Captain Norman R. Hutchinson, in 1985. A graduate of Chandler Finishing School, Joan became a personal shopper at Gilchrest Department Store in Boston.
As a child, she lived in Braintree and Salem, MA before moving to the Panama Canal Zone with her husband, who piloted ships through the canal. In later years, she wintered in Westbrook, ME before moving to Birch Heights in Derry in 2004. She was a member of the Pan Canal Society, President of the Coco Solo(Canal Zone) Civic Association, The Long Island Civic Association and was in the Sweet Adelines, an A Cappella singing group in the Canal Zone.
At four years old, Joan became a summer resident of Long Island, ME. She has shared her lifelong love of the island with her children and grandchildren. Crosswords on the porch, bike rides, picking blueberries, beaches and playing bridge at Ivy Hall with her friends were her favorite island activities. She leaves a legacy of devotion to the small island community. The family still resides on the original site of Joan’s first island home.
Her family includes sons and daughters- in- law, Roger and Linda of Vero Beach, FL; David and Gina of Derry, NH; Martin “Rocky” and Cindy of Round Rock, TX, Scott and Valerie, of Lago Vista, TX. She leaves eight grandchildren, David Jr., Jeremy, Dawn Marie, Ken, Rob, Christine, Katie and Scott, as well as fourteen great grandchildren. The family would like to thank the staff of Pleasant Valley Nursing Center for the care and love shown to Joan during the last two years.
Following cremation, a celebration of her life will be held August 29, 2015 from 2:00- 5:00 PM at her family home on Island Avenue, Long Island, ME. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joan’s name to the building fund for The Long Island Community Center, Town of Long Island, PO Box 263, Long Island , Maine 04050.