Joan Ellen Griggs

Joan Ellen Griggs (nee’ Smith, formerly Wyper), 98, passed away peacefully on July 23, 2025 at Andwell Hospice House in Auburn, Maine. A hard working and hardy lass, she was born on April 23, 1927, in Toledo, Ohio, daughter of Charles Levi Smith and Elizabeth Ellen Price. She was predeceased by her beloved husband Donald Ray Griggs. Raised in Toledo, Joan’s life began anew when she and Don remarried and settled in the Camden/Rockport area of Maine-“where the mountains meet the sea.” Together they raised their blended family with an appreciation for the beauty of Maine, traveling throughout the state: “up north,” Down East, The County, and the rugged coast. Joan’s adventures became family legends: “discovering” Andre the Seal in a dinghy beside them; losing a boiled egg to a bold seagull who flew in the car window on Cadillac Mountain during one of her famous “car picnics;” or hiring a lobsterman to ferry them back from Islesboro in the middle of the night in a storm after missing the last boat. She was a gifted storyteller with a flair for the comedic and melodramatic, and- to the dismay of her family-loved sharing stories about them with anyone who would listen. Joan delighted in bringing family together for holidays and meals. Halloween was not complete without “Grammy” dressing up as a witch or fortune teller to hand out candy and serve chili dogs. She was a wonderful cook, an enthusiastic entertainer, a formidable Scrabble opponent, and she loved her “TV programs” about Alaska. She was especially proud of her work at the Brookfield Shop, a specialty women’s clothing store in Rockland, Maine, where she began as an employee and later became the owner. Customers traveled from near and far for her sense of style, unique apparel, and custom fittings. Above all, Joan’s greatest joy was her family - she enjoyed seeing her children, grandchildren and great grandchild thrive and prosper. Even as they sat with her during her final days, she was beaming with pride that her family members were “settled and happy” in their lives. She is survived by her children: Susan Ford and husband Duane of Sedgwick, Maine; Michelle Cmar of Rockland, Maine; and Janet Wyper and husband Edgar Twilley of Windham, Maine. She leaves behind beloved grandchildren: Emily Ford and husband Dana Codrey of Gorham, Maine; Elliott Twilley and wife Trey of Austin, Texas; Alyda Twilley of Windham, Maine; and Elizabeth Proctor and husband Paul Niemczyk of New Hope, Pennsylvania, along with their son Luca, Joan’s cherished great-grandson. She was predeceased by her brother Robert Screptock. A private family gathering will be held at a later date to commemorate her life. In keeping with Joan’s lifelong love of animals-especially her treasured poodle, Goldie-memorial contributions may be made to the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland, P.O. Box 336, Westbrook, ME 04098, or online at www.arlgp.org/memorial. In her own words, Joan asked that she be remembered through the sentiment of the Scottish poet Thomas Campbell: “To live on in the hearts of those we leave behind is not to die.”

Joan Ellen Griggs

April 23, 1927 - July 23, 2025

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