Jean C. (Carr) Bunnell

PORTLAND   Jean C. Bunnell passed peacefully into the arms of her Savior at Maine Medical Center on Friday March 8.  Jean’s passing followed over seven weeks of hospitalization after an extensive open-heart surgery in mid-January.

          Jean was born September 25, 1949 in Portland to William and Frances (Oliver) Carr of Falmouth. She attended Falmouth Schools and went on to attain a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Southern Maine at Gorham. In later years, she also obtained a master’s degree in special education from the University of Southern Maine.

          Jean enjoyed a number of positions during her career as a teacher: in Berlin, New Hampshire; at the University School for the Gifted, Creative, and Talented in South Portland; at the Rowe School in Norway; at the Fox School in South Paris; and most recently at the Oxford Hills Christian Academy in Oxford.

          A woman of devout Christian faith, Jean also was employed as Parish Administrator at the State Street Church in Portland and later as church organist and sometimes choir director at a number of area parishes. She was greatly beloved at the Christ Episcopal Church in Norway and most recently at her home church, The Anglican Church of the Transfiguration in Mechanic Falls, Maine.

          A talented writer, Jean was the author of a variety of successful supplementary school publications published by J. Weston Walch Publishers of Portland.

          An accomplished cook, seamstress, quilt-maker, and basket maker, among other talents, Jean enjoyed volunteer positions at the Norlands Living History Center in Livermore and at the United Society of Shakers in New Gloucester.

          With her loving husband, Steve Bunnell, Jean and Steve were licensed by the State of Maine as Foster/Adoptive Parents. Successively, they welcomed a total of seven foster children into their home in Norway and were blessed to be able to adopt three of them. Jean also greatly enjoyed teaching the Foster/Adoptive licensing class for the state of Maine. Later, she went on to work with many at risk children and their families as a Case Manager with Child Development Services in Oxford.

          Jean is survived by her beloved husband of 35 years, Steven Bunnell and by their three adoptive children: Toshona, Autumn, and Kevin. Toshona was married to Anthony Wright in 2017 and Jean and Steve were made proud grandparents to a grandson, Romann, pictured with Jean in the accompanying photo.

          Jean is also survived by her siblings and their families:  Sister, Nancy Carr of Portland; Brother, William (Skip) Carr and his wife Linda of Falmouth; Niece, Amanda Carr of Portland; Nephew, Russell Carr and his wife Amy and their daughters Anita and Maxine of Falmouth; and Sister, Susan (Carr) Johnson and her husband Ralph and son Matthew of Falmouth.

          A Memorial Service to honor Jean is scheduled at the Anglican Church of the Transfiguration in Mechanic Falls on Saturday March 23 at 11:00 a.m. A luncheon will follow downstairs in the Fellowship Hall.

          For those who would like to make a contribution in Jean’s name, a memorial fund has been established to support ongoing renovation projects on the historic church building that has become so central to Jean and Steve’s lives over the last three years. Contributions can be made to The Jean C. Bunnell Memorial Fund, the Anglican Church of the Transfiguration, 64 Elm Street, Mechanic Falls Maine 04256.