Joan Whyte Fenno

Joan W. Fenno, 90, died Friday, June 3, 2022 in Falmouth, Maine with family at her side. She was born in Washington, DC to Clifton Andrews Whyte and Helen Kent Whyte. As a child, Joan loved to dance ballet and tap. When her father joined the US Navy SeaBees late in the Depression, they moved to Bermuda, returning to Washington at the start of WWII. Joan and her mother moved to their summer camp on Lake Maranacook in Maine while her father served in the Pacific Theater. Her high school years were spent on their family farm in Monmouth, ME, followed by college at the University of Maine. During High School, not only did she work the farm but Joan held part-time jobs as a grocery store clerk, soda jerk, and cabin girl at summer camps. She lived for a year in Naples, Italy, where her father was stationed, taking off a year from college. Returning to the University of Maine, she met the love of her life (Frank Wesley Fenno III, “Reuben”) on a blind date and became the first college graduate of her family. Frank joined the Army and then started a lifelong career with Corning Glass Works which took them all over the United States and Belgium. Joan was passionate about the Girl Scouts, holding various leadership positions over 35 years. When her youngest child started school, she began her career in the school district, starting as a crossing guard and retiring over 40 years later as a health aide.

Joan’s true passion was working with animals and she thoroughly enjoyed running dog training classes for the City of Corning for over 20 years. Years later, meeting dogs and owners on the street, she would remember the dogs names, but not the owners! Just before retirement, Joan and Frank purchased a home near Wellsboro, PA, and built a horse farm. Fortunately, they built a stable, so the horses were not house pets like all her dogs and cats over the years. She was finally in her element, having her own “nature preserve” for everything from deer to the occasional bear.

Throughout her life, she was never happier than with family. She was an amazing mother to her five children but born to be a grandmother. She vacationed extensively throughout the US and world, frequently accompanied by children and grandchildren. Her grandchildren all expressed how much her amazing hugs will be missed.

Joan is predeceased by her husband, Frank, and brother, Clifton A. Whyte Jr. (“Pete”). She is survived by her five children, Karen Abbott (husband, Clifford Jr., grandchildren, Clifford Abbott III and wife, Carney; Caitlyn Abbott Balliett and husband, Seth); Frank W. Fenno IV (wife, Tricia and grandchildren, Alexandra Fenno Poplin and husband, Isaac; Zachary Fenno); Stephanie Fenno Dubots; Michael Clifton Fenno (wife, Tracy, and grandchildren, Amy Sharaf; Michael Fenno Jr; Elise Fenno; and Grace Fenno); and Leslie Fenno Bruce (husband, Joseph,and grandchildren Cody Unger and Ashley Unger). She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Barbara Whyte of Wenatchee, WA, and her brother-in-law Charles Fenno of Knoxville, TN.

We wish to thank Sedgewood Commons’ incredible staff for all the love and care they gave our mother these last years. Their dedication, as well as the compassion shown by Southern Maine Hospice made our mother’s end of life care more peaceful.

Private family services will be held at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Washington, DC. If you wish to honor our mother’s memory, in lieu of flowers, please consider donations to an animal rescue or shelter of your choice, the Alzheimer’s Association, or Hospice of Southern Maine.