Obituary: Joan Elinor (Miller) Jensen
Joan Elinor Jensen, 93, Dies in Falmouth After a Life of Service, Family, and Wildlife
FALMOUTH — Joan Elinor (Miller) Jensen, a longtime resident of Falmouth and a devoted daughter, wife, mother, and grandmother, died peacefully on July 20, 2026. She was 93.
Born in Portland in 1933 to George and Ruth (Wands) Miller, Joan was the middle child among nine siblings. She earned her diploma from Deering High School in 1951 and, two years later, married John Jensen of Falmouth. The couple welcomed a son, Michael, and a daughter, Kathy, in the years that followed.
Jensen’s career in banking began immediately after high school, when she took a teller’s position at First Portland National Bank. Over time she rose through the ranks to become a branch manager and loan officer at Bank of America. Her steady work supported the family while John attended the University of Maine in Orono, and she continued her banking career after the family settled in Falmouth, retiring on a well‑earned pension.
Beyond her professional life, Joan was a lifelong learner. She spent countless hours in the Woodfords branch of the Portland Public Library as a child and carried that love of books into adulthood. In later years she listened to audiobooks, favored mysteries, and kept a jigsaw puzzle or word puzzle on her coffee table. Genealogical research into the Miller and Jensen families was a regular pastime, and she kept detailed records of both lineages.
Animals were a constant presence in Joan’s home. She raised several cats and kept her bird feeders stocked, delighting in the owls that visited her yard and the cardinals that flocked to the feeder each spring. Chipmunks would sometimes climb into her hand for seeds, and she collected owl figurines and paintings as a testament to her affection for the nocturnal birds. Joan supported a variety of animal welfare and environmental charities, including the Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, Utah, and the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland.
Her weekends were often spent at Big Lake, a fishing spot she and John visited annually for thirty years. While John cast his line, Joan would read in the sunshine, enjoying the quiet of the water. Those fishing trips forged lifelong friendships that she treasured.
Music was another of her passions. Joan sang in the Falmouth Congregational Church choir for many years and was a member of the Sweet Adelines chorus. She also loved movie musical soundtracks, often performing show‑tune numbers around the house.
Joan was pre‑deceased by her husband John, her son Michael, and eight of her siblings: Sally West, Marcia Lovejoy, Dorothy Bodwell, Robert Miller, Judith Francis, Virginia Mushrow, and David Miller. She is survived by her daughter Kathy, her granddaughter Lauren, her brother William Miller, and a large circle of nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at the Falmouth Congregational Church on September 26 at 11 a.m., followed by a reception for friends and family. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor Joan’s memory may consider a donation to the Best Friends Animal Society, the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland, or another local animal‑welfare charity.
Joan’s legacy lives on in the countless lives she touched—through her dedication to her family, her commitment to community service, and her love of the natural world. Her gentle spirit, sharp mind, and warm heart will be remembered by all who were fortunate to know her.
