9/27/1934 ---- 9/27/2020
Joanne Chute, 86 of Dennett Str. Portland, passed away Sept. 27, 2020 at “The Cedars,” elder care home where she had been a resident for the past year.
Joanne was born in Braintree Ma., the daughter of the late Edward Stackhouse and Iva Mae Dickerman. Her father worked for Eastman Kodak and her mother was a homemaker raising two sons Vernon and Clayton Stackhouse as well as Joanne. Joanne was very proud of her two big brothers who joined the Navy and served in the Pacific theater of WWII. The two brothers were united briefly when Clayton saw his brother’s ship and his Captain stopped the vessel so that Clayton could go over and visit Vernon. When the war ended Edward, Iva, Joanne, Vernon and his bride Radience June Kramer moved to Maine where Edward and Vernon each built houses on a tract of land on the Shore of Long Lake in North Bridgton. Joanne lived with her parents and continued to care for them when they moved to South Paris, Maine.
Joanne and her husband Clyde Chute met at the Harrison Insurance Co. where they both worked. When Clyde changed jobs they moved to Portland and started a family. They enjoyed 35 years of marriage until Clyde’s death on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008. Joanne and Clyde were members of the Lake Side Grange in Harrison and Joanne was a member of the Eastern Star. She was a homemaker, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and beloved aunt. She worked tirelessly and faithfully for her god and church. She was a member of the Chestnut Street United Methodist Church as well as the Clark Memorial Methodist Church. Joanne loved to knit hats, mittens and scarves. Many of the children near her Church as well as her family had toasty warm heads and hands in the winter as they made snowmen and had snowball fights. Her knit dish cloths, doilies, and towels still adorn many kitchens today. Joanne loved a good bean supper and traveled every Saturday night to local Churches and Granges to sample their fare. She was a willing critic and could tell you who had the best rolls and the most bountiful offering of pies. She loved fall, crisp apples and foliage rides as long as they stopped at Cole Farm or Becky’s diner along the way.
Joanne is survived by a daughter Mary and her husband Donald Robichaud and their sons Zachary and Kyle. A son William Chute his wife Nicole, and their daughter Aryana. A granddaughter Calysta, who Clyde and Joanne raised as a daughter. Joanne has three great granddaughters, a caring and kind nephew Dennis Stackhouse his wife Lynda and their two sons Brent and Andrew, a niece Cindi Stackhouse and her family Gary, Adam and Jordan. Joanne had a beloved niece Penny Thomas who passed away in August of this year, Penny is survived by her husband Jimmy. Since Clyde’s passing, “Auntie Jo” talked with Penny daily on the phone (often two or three times) and they visited together often.
Joanne was very fortunate to meet and make a good friend and companion James Coulimore. For the last few years Jim roomed at Joanne’s house, cared for her, cooked and cleaned for her and drove her wherever she wanted to go.
Visiting hours will be held Friday Oct.16, 2:00pm – 4:00pm and 6:00pm – 8:00pm at Jones, Rich and Barnes Funeral Home 199 Woodford Str. Portland, Maine. We politely ask that you please bring and wear a face mask to both gatherings and social distancing will be practiced.
A funeral service and internment will take place 1:00pm Saturday, Oct.17 at Maple Ridge Cemetery, Maple Ridge Rd. Harrison, Maine.
In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joanne’s memory to Shriners Hospital for Children, for its Boston location, 51 Blossom Street Boston, MA 02114-2699. Tele.617-371-4746 or www.ShrinersHospitalsforChildren.org/Boston
