July 5, 1945 – August 9, 2026

Joan C. Kirby, 81, of Waldo Maine, passed away peacefully on August 9,2026, surrounded by her loved ones. Joan was truly a one-of-a-kind woman. Witty, spunky, silly, and boisterously funny. She carried warmth and sweetness with her wherever she went, effortlessly making people feel comfortable, cared for, and somehow happier to have crossed paths with her. Joan could turn an ordinary conversation into a story with her gift for remembering, and she could make anyone laugh until they cried. Whether she was sharing a story from years ago, reminiscing about her childhood, or simply being herself, there was something about Joan that drew people in and made them want to stay awhile and listen. She made friends everywhere she went. Even a trip to the grocery store could lead to a conversation with a stranger, who would soon become a dear friend.

As much as Joan loved everyone, there was absolutely nothing she loved more than her family, and her grandchildren were among her greatest joys. She was there for them not only for the big moments and achievements, but throughout the ordinary, day-to-day parts of their lives. She was present, involved, deeply invested in each of them and beyond proud of them. Anyone who spent even a few minutes talking with her was sure to hear about them. She bragged about them with pride that was impossible to miss, and each of them knew, without a doubt, how deeply and unconditionally their Grammy Joan loved them.

Some of the sweetest memories of Joan live in the simplest moments: Saturday morning Dunkin’ Donuts with everyone gathered around the table talking, holidays when everyone lined up for a slice of Grammy’s carrot cake and Christmas Eves when Joan would spend the night so she could wake up with the family on Christmas morning. These were ordinary traditions, but Joan had a way of making ordinary things feel special simply because she was there. Family gatherings were filled with laughter, old stories, and memories that somehow became funnier every time they were told. There was always another story to share, another memory to bring up and another reason to laugh until tears filled everyone’s eyes.

No one ever left Joan’s house empty-handed. There was always something she wanted you to take home, food she had made, something she had seen and thought you could use, or anything else she thought someone she loved might enjoy. Giving came naturally to Joan. If she had something that might make someone else’s life a little easier or happier, she wanted them to have it. It was simply who she was.Joan shared an especially remarkable and special bond with her daughter-in-law, April. What began as a relationship between mother-and daughter-in-law grew into a true friendship and a connection that was rare in every sense. They shared a closeness and a special bond will never be forgotten. Through Joan’s many hardships, April, and Joan’s son, Norman, were a constant presence by her side, caring for her, supporting her and becoming a source of strength when she needed it most.

Joan was a woman who knew exactly what she liked. She was always watching her soap operas, listening to Willie’s Roadhouse playing on the radio, and, of course, her Hallmark Christmas movies, especially when Christmas in July rolled around. She was an incredible cook and baker and loved to teach others this talent of hers. Her homemade carrot cake was legendary within the family. To those who loved her, it will forever be the best carrot cake in the universe. These little things were so distinctly Joan, and they are the details that will bring her immediately to mind in the years ahead.

Joan leaves behind many friends and loved ones whose lives were immeasurably better because she was part of them. She had a huge heart, a generous spirit, and a gift for making people feel like they belong. She was unapologetically herself and that was more than enough to leave an unforgettable impression on everyone fortunate enough to know her. Her absence will be felt in so many places: on Saturday mornings at Dunkin’ Donuts, around the table at holidays, during Christmas movies and country songs, in familiar family stories and the laughter that follows them, at all the gatherings where someone will instinctively think, “Grammy would have loved this.” Her grandchildren will miss hearing her brag about them. Her family will miss the stories she told so many times that everyone knew the ending but still laughed when she told them over and over again. They will miss her teasing-like humor. Times like, “Oh my back,” "Look who finally crawled out of her cave,” “no more red velvet cake for grammy,” “How many more babies are you going to have?” She never failed to make them laugh. They will miss the aromas of her home, the things she sent home with them, the conversations that could stretch on forever, and the comfort of simply knowing she was there. Joan will be missed beyond measure, but the love she gave so freely does not disappear with her. It lives on in her family, in the traditions she helped create, in the stories that will be shared for generations to come, in the laughter that will continue to fill family gatherings, and in all the little pieces of herself she left with the people she loved. That is the kind of mark Joan left in the world. She did not simply pass through the lives of the people who loved her; she became a part of them. And though they would give anything to hear her voice, her laughter, or one more story, they will carry her with them for the rest of their lives. Joan may have left this world, but she never truly left the people she loved...she became a part of them.

Joan leaves behind her sons, Norman Kirby and his wife, April, Tim Brown and his wife, Linda; her grandchildren, Kendra (Kirby) Leach and her husband, Ethan, Saige Kirby and her partner, Ben Osborne, Olivia Kirby, and Blakely Kirby; her great-grandchildren, Jasmine Leach, Esme Leach, and Theron Leach; and her brother, Bruce Clendenin. She is also survived by her beloved nieces and nephew, Christie, Missy, and Benny, as well as many dear friends and loved ones who will miss her greatly. Joan was predeceased by her parents, George and Hazel Black; her siblings, Pat Kendal and Gary Black; her daughter, Lynn Marie; and her beloved husband, William Kirby.