BANGOR – Priscilla J. Paine, 83 passed away suddenly yet peacefully June 20, 2013 at a Bangor hospital. She was born Feb. 5, 1930, in Detroit, to Herbert Peterson and Elizabeth (Johnson) Peterson.
Her mother taught her a great deal about canning, cooking, and all aspects of maintaining the home economy. She utilized this throughout her life, impressing, all those who knew her with her cooking, baking and anything else she touched relative to providing. Priscilla was a loving daughter, doting wife, dedicated mother and an incredible friend to have. She graduated from high school, then attended beautician school. Later in life, she attended school to earn her credentials as a licensed practical nurse, allowing her to turn her very personality into a career for nearly 20 years. She met the love of her life after high school, Robert A. Joy of Camden. She dedicated herself to this man each and every day through many trials and tribulations. Being a “depression baby,” she knew how to stretch a dollar and did whatever it took to assist Robert in providing for their family. Priscilla raised three children with Robert: David Joy, Bethany Joy Belanger and James Joy. She nurtured these children with every fiber of her being and was a loving mother. When times were tough and Robert was going to school to earn his degree in education from the University of Maine at Farmington, she would bake and sell bread and other goods. She would sew and mend items for anyone; whatever it took. One of her favorite occupations was working for Sears and Roebuck in the advertising department. She loved the job and they in turn loved her making her employee of the month publishing it in the local paper with a picture coined “Pretty Priscilla Joy.” Once the children came along she was a stay-at-home mother. She loved gardening, cooking, canning and raising her children. Later in life in the 1970s, most of the children were out of the house. It was time for Priscilla to devote her life and talent to something else, nursing. In the mid 70s Priscilla earned her credentials as a licensed practical nurse and went to work at Redington-Fairview Hospital for nearly 20 years. What a wonderful nurse she was! In the early 80s the fairy tale was not to be for Priscilla and Robert. They parted ways and were divorced in the early 80s after nearly 32 years of marriage. Both remarried. She continued to dedicate herself to the nursing profession until she retired in 1994 to dedicate herself to family. She retired but took care of her pride and joy, her grandchildren. She took care of them and formed a strong bond. At this point she decided to fully retire and lived in Orono until 2010. The last few years were difficult in regards to her health. She struggled with her mobility and other aspects of her health from that point forward and was in and out of the hospital, rehabilitation, and nursing facilities. She never gave up and loved her family deeply.
She is survived by her sister, Pauline Hall of Pittsfield and her family; brother, Levi Peterson of Florida and his family; son, James Joy of Brewer and wife, Patti Grady Joy; grandsons, Jacob G. Joy and Jarrod R. Joy; daughter, Bethany Joy Belanger of Berlin, N.Y. and husband, Duane Belanger, and their daughter, Danielle Grandbois and family, of Brownwood, Texas; daughter-in-law, Helen Joy; granddaughter, Selena Joy, both of Virginia; and many other great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, Priscilla was predeceased by son, David S. Joy; grandson, Eric C. Joy; as well as her second husband, Chester F. Paine.
A celebration of life will be held 4-7 p.m. Saturday, June 29, at Jeff’s Catering, East/West Industrial Park, 15 Littlefield Way, Brewer.
Priscilla Janet Paine
