Joan P. (Hurd) Swindells

LEWISTON – On Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023, Joan P. Swindells (nee Hurd), Mom, GG, Gram, Aunt Jo passed from this world just shy of her 96th birthday. She was surrounded by three of her four children. She was born on Jan. 20, 1928, in Bangor, Maine to Ina and Oakman Hurd. She outlived all 11 of her siblings.

Joan moved to Auburn in 1940 and made it her home until she and the love of her life and husband of 66 years, John R. Swindells, moved to Montello Heights. Joan called the Heights home until a broken hip cramped her style and forced a move to Montello Manor in September 2023.

While Joan did not have a lot of formal education, she was among the most informed persons with whom you will ever have had the pleasure of bantering.

John and Joan traveled extensively: Hawaii, Europe, and other US and Canadian destinations are just a sampling of the places they visited. It is safe to say that their trip to Bill Clinton’s inauguration on her 65th birthday in 1993 was among the highlights of her life. Her tenacity secured them great seats to watch the swearing in, and, with the help of George Mitchell, tickets to the Maine Ball.

She passed that tenacity on to her four children, Steven (Mary) of Smithfield, Pamela Swindells of Fort Worth, Texas, James, (Donna) of Portland, and Paula Swindells Leavitt (John) of Turner. They promise to stay feisty and honor her memory forever.

She was fiercely proud of her 10 grandchildren. The only thing she was prouder of was her 12 great-grandchildren. Mom, Gram, GG, Aunt Jo is now dancing with Bumpa and arguing with her favorite sister, Connie Fournier. The family would like to express their most sincere gratitude to the staff of Montello Heights and Montello Manor for caring for Joan as if she was one of her their own.

She was predeceased by her husband, John in 2014, both her parents, and all of her siblings and their spouses.

Go with God, we’ve got it from here.

Online condolences and fond memories may be shared on Joan’s memorial page at http://www.albert-burpee.com.

Visitation will be held at the Albert & Burpee Funeral Home on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m, with a liturgy of the word service at 1pm. Interment, Gracelawn Memorial Park. Arrangements are under the care of Albert & Burpee Funeral Home & Cremation Services 253 Pine St. Lewiston, 782-7201.