Joan Elizabeth Stanton Fitting, born April 18, 1926 in New York City, passed away peacefully on April 21, 2021 just days after celebrating her 95th birthday. Her husband of forty-seven years and the love of her life, Donald Fitting, was right by her side. Joan and Don had lived in Solebury, PA for their entire married life until moving to Maine two years ago to be closer to Joan’s daughter, Karen. Joan was previously married to James L. Harris, with whom she had three children: Guy, Karen, and Ellen.
Joan had many dear friends whom she had met through the years through her involvement in The League of Women’s Voters, her years selling real estate in Bucks County, and her work at the local newspaper, The Daily Intelligencer. When she retired from the newspaper, she joined the board of the Solebury Township Historical Society and became their archivist, organizing and sorting through the historical documents and artifacts of the town of Solebury. Joan loved going to garage sales and was a bridge addict, and both she and Donald were devoted longstanding members of the Solebury Farmers Club. Joan deeply valued her friends, and she continued to correspond with as many as she could even late in life. Of course, her very best friend was her husband, Don.
Joan’s love of animals was tremendous and all-encompassing: she adored dogs, cats, goats, sheep, ducks, bunnies, and horses. Often times, she would wake the whole family up for the birth of a litter of kittens or puppies, and she once threw a birthday party for her goat “Jennifer”, inviting all of the neighborhood animals and dressing them in birthday hats! Joan could never be without a dog by her side and was a supporter of local animal shelters. She gave many pets a wonderful home full or love and good company. Joan and Don’s dog Monty was right next to her the day before her death.
On her 95th birthday, Joan’s entire family, three children, nine grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren joined in a Zoom call to wish her a happy birthday. With her devoted husband by her side, she spent the day surrounded by family, love, and song.
Joan is predeceased by her first husband, James L. Harris, and her beloved grandson, Nathan Harris. She is survived by her husband, Donald Fitting of Solebury, PA; her son, Guy Harris of Mountain View, AR, and his children Lauren Stuart (husband Mike Stuart and children Dylan and Madeline) and Alisa Anderson (husband Geoff Anderson and son Judah); her daughter Karen Harris (husband Rob Gips) of Portland ME, and their children Sara Gips Goodall (husband Gavin Goodall and children David and Sage), Allie Gips, and Rachel Gips; and her daughter Ellen Harris (husband Ray McNulty) of Brewster, MA, and her children Katherine Bode (husband Eric Bode and sons Bec and Rhett), Patrick Gannon, Evan Gannon (wife Emily Gannon and children Carter and Kylie), and Casey Gannon.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Hobbs Funeral Home, 230 Cottage Road, South Portland, ME 04106. A funeral service will be held via Zoom in the future. If you wish to attend, please visit www.hobbsfuneralhome.com for information and to leave online condolences. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Joan’s name to The Bucks County SPCA, 1665 Street Road, New Hope, PA 18938
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