Joanne Margaret Norris (née Chisholm), age 92, of Kittery, Maine, passed away due to multiple illnesses; she was under the care of hospice and surrounded by her immediate family at 3:15 pm on 7/15/2024. She is predeceased by her parents, Mary and Ted Chisholm. She is survived by her devoted husband, Martin D. Norris, who has been by her side for 70+ years; her loving sister Carolyn Edwards, son David Norris of Farmington, ME, daughters Sandra Norris Futterrer and her wife, Liz Futterrer of Eliot, ME, and Laurie Norris and her husband, Brandon Smith of Atlanta, GA, as well as multiple nieces and nephews.

Joanne was born on 3/7/1932 in Rockland, Maine, and grew up very close to her only sibling, Carolyn; they have always been two peas in a pod, spending all of their formative years together and have spoken to each other nearly every day. They both worked at their father's diner-style restaurant, Chisholm's Spa, where they served homemade ice cream, milkshakes, floats, and sundaes, as well as sandwiches and sodas in the '40s and '50s. He also made chocolate, fudge, and ribbon candy for department stores, and they were paid to crimp the ribbon candy by hand. Their mother was a nurse and both Joanne and Carolyn became nurses as well. Joanne graduated from Eastern Maine Medical in 1953. She married Martin in June 1954, and he enlisted in active duty for the US Air Force, where they were stationed all over the US for 22 years, including Presque Isle and Bangor, Maine; Honolulu, Hawaii; Scott AFB, Illinois; Charleston, South Carolina and Dover, Delaware twice. They would adopt three children and raise them all across the US, landing in Belfast, ME in 1975, calling it home for 11 years. After living in Berwick, ME for many years, they eventually moved to Kittery, ME and have lived there for 17 years.

A devoted mother who always attended all of her children's baton contests, dance recitals, plays, music, sports, arts, and any extracurricular activities with endless rides, she tirelessly volunteered at their schools. She could typically be found engaged in many a project, whether tending to flower and vegetable gardens, canning, knitting, sewing, tatting, or needlepoint. She was an avid reader and a lover of travel, film, and music.

She was equally our biggest fan and number one supporter throughout all of our lives. No matter what we pursued, she would be right there cheering us on. She was so proud of her children and family. She was the tapestry that held our family together and left us so many wonderful memories. She was dearly beloved, and we will miss her smile, her laughter, and her love. ♡

She will be interred at the niche wall located at the Southern Maine Memorial Veterans Cemetery, Springvale, ME.

~In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of your choice in Joanne's name~