Joan A. (Miller) Tibbetts

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Joan A. (Miller) Tibbetts, 85, of Keene, N.H. and formerly a longtime resident of Unionville, Conn. died peacefully in the company of her children on Thursday, March 22, 2018 at the Genesis Keene Center after a period of declining health.

Joan was born the daughter of the late Dorothy (Dunlap) and Ralph Miller on October 22, 1932 in Norridgewock, Maine. She was educated in nearby Skowhegan and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Skowhegan High School class of 1950, for which she was the Class Historian.

On October 27, 1984 she exchanged vows with Waldo E. Tibbetts on his 65th birthday at the Memorial United Methodist Church in Avon, Conn. with her children in attendance. Sadly, Waldo passed in 2004 after 19 years of marriage. Joan was formerly married to Virgil K. Farrar, currently of Concord, N.C., with whom she remained friends after their divorce.

Joan was a hard-working single mother and provider for her children in spite of her failing vision due to Retinitis Pigmentosa. She worked for many years at the Farmington Avenue Cleaners in Unionville as a processor and clerk. Prior, she had been employed at the Myrtle Milles Department Store as a waitress and counter staff.

Joan had many interests in life, but none were more important than cooking and entertaining for her family and friends. As she came from a large family, family time was very important to her. She was a longtime member of the Simsbury (Conn.) Mothers’ Club. She enjoyed attending the Methodist church and loved to sing, including the occasional silly or irreverent song.

Mrs. Tibbetts is survived by her children, daughter Holly A. Farrar of Keene and son Duane S. Farrar and his wife Elizabeth and their twin daughters Iris & Camilla of Watertown, Mass., her siblings Virginia Hayden of Madison, Maine and Lucille Kahawaiolaa and her husband Francis of Tariffville, Conn. In addition, she leaves numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. Joan was pre-deceased by her parents, her son Keith Farrar who passed in 1960 and her siblings Richard Miller, Donald Miller, Philip Miller, Pauline White and Lawrence Miller.

In keeping with Joan’s wishes there are no calling hours. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, May 12, 2018 at 10 a.m. in the Centenary United Methodist Church, 113 Dr. Mann Road, Skowhegan, Maine 04976. Burial will follow in the family lot at the Sunset View Cemetery in Norridgewock. Donations can be sent in memory of Joan A. Tibbetts to the: Foundation Fighting Blindness, P.O. Box 17279, Baltimore, MD 21298-9581 or online at: www.blindness.org. WWW.cheshirefamilyfh.com

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