WEST BALDWIN – Jean Bradbury Johnston, 85, entered her heavenly home with the God she loved on February 25, 2019. She was born November 4, 1933 in Springfield, MA to Ralph and Mildred Bradbury and brother, Robert. She attended Keene State College (then Keene Teacher’s College) in Keene, NH for three years, then married her high school sweetheart, Royce Eastman Johnston in September 1954. Together, they raised four children, living in Topsfield, MA from 1957 to 1992 and were active in ministry with the Topsfield Congregational Church. Jean served as a Deaconess for many years there, and cared deeply about others. She was a gifted seamstress, knitter, and quilter, knitting prayer shawls for those in hospitals and nursing homes, participated in a Hats for Veterans program, sending warm knitted caps to military servicemen up until she could no longer do so two years ago. She made quilts for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a diligent note-writer, sending encouraging notes to hundreds over the years, both as a ministry and personally to family and friends until her health declined. She and Royce lived in Boxford for 22 years, until moving to West Baldwin to live with daughter & son-in-law Cheryl & Keith Stackhouse in 2014. Jean and Royce summered in York Beach at the family cottage, which was her favorite place to be. She and Royce worshipped with the Union Congregational Church while at York Beach each summer. Jean loved her family – and was proud of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She adored her husband of 64 years, and Royce was the love of her life. After moving to West Baldwin, she and Royce have attended Calvary Bible Church in Hiram, where she made friends immediately, and often expressed her love and appreciation for her new church family. Always, a grateful and graceful woman, Jean testified to every doctor, nurse, and caregiver that she was not afraid of death – that she knew where she was going, and that “God is with me”. The family wishes to thank Kindred at Home Services and Northern Light Home Care & Hospice for their exceptional care of Jean during numerous in-home rehabs from 2016-2018 and hospice care since January 24, 2019.
Jean is survived by her dear husband, Royce, daughters Cheryl Stackhouse and husband Keith, Laura Lewis, Leslie Fassnacht and husband Gene, and son, Brad Johnston and wife Linda; her grandchildren: Heather Parker and husband, Aaron, Amber Schertz and husband, David, Dawn Stackhouse and husband, Haythem Shahin, Benjamin Stackhouse and wife, Melanie, Christopher Lewis and wife, Johanna, Garrett Lewis and girlfriend Jaye, Jaclyn Thompson, Cathryn Thompson, and Andrew Fassnacht, Kyle Johnston (minor league pitcher of whom she was so proud), and Ryan Johnston. Great-grandchildren: Zachery, Nicole, Jackson, Natalie and Caroline Parker, Beckett and Hayden Schertz, Calliope Shahin, Leah, Eric, Carley Stackhouse and Jaaden Thompson; as well as dear cousins, Jayne Tillotson and Sally Smith, and sister-in-law, Martha Beryle Johnston and several loved nieces and nephews and their families.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, March 2, 2019 at 2:00pm at the Calvary Bible Church building on 348 South Hiram Rd., Hiram, Maine, officiated by Pastor Dan Ahern and son-in-law, Pastor Keith Stackhouse. Interment will be at the First Parish Cemetery in York, Maine in the spring.
Online condolence messages can be submitted at the Poitras, Neal & York Funeral Home website, www.mainefuneral.com
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Calvary Bible Church in Hiram, ME or Union Congregational Church at PO Box 567, York Beach, ME 03910 in Jean’s memory.