Jean Patricia Tibbetts

1939 – 2024

HOLLIS, NH–On December 27, 2024, Jean Patricia Tibbetts, 85, of Hollis, NH and more recently having resided within the compassionate and respectful care of The Courville at Nashua, NH, passed away peacefully and graciously into the comforting arms of Her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and His promise of Eternal Life where she will join her mother Patricia Angela Woodward Libby and brother Richard Linwood Libby who both predeceased her.

Jean was born on May 16, 1939, in Portland, Maine, the oldest of 4 children to Linwood and Patricia Libby. On May 23, 1959, she married Richard Tibbetts of Scarborough, ME with whom she raised 2 children in Salem, NH. Jean is survived by her children, Michael Dana Tibbetts, her daughter in law, Ann Tibbetts, her daughter Michele Diane Willis; her sisters Phyllis Sparks, and her husband, Rev. David Sparks of Dover, Delaware and Sharon Lamprecht, and her partner Bill Douvris, in Hudson, NH.

She is also survived by her grandchildren Harrison Tibbetts, Alec Tibbetts, Laura Tibbetts, great-grandchildren Makaliee Willis and Desi Desimone.

Jean graduated from Portland High School and loved living in Portland beside the ocean. She loved being with her family at Ken’s Place, The Lobster Shack, (onion rings) Italian sandwiches, strawberry shortcake, and Two Lights State Park.

Jean was a voracious reader her whole life devouring local newspapers, magazines, biographies and checking books out at the Portland library. During summers off from school, she joined a summer reading program at the library, reading more books than her classmates.

For all who knew Jean, in her life, she took special care to be self-providing and to humbly be independent and always took care of this identity as who she was. She worked at J.M Fields from its opening in 1968 until its closing in 1978, in Salem, NH where she raised a family of two children for 20 years. She also worked full-time for many years at Centronics and Teradyne Industries, establishing several long-term friendships. After several years, working in the Deli at Hannaford, she finally retired.

She was always in for a good conversation with a playful sarcastic comment, when appropriate. Always pointing out the obvious, usually when engaging in a conversation with her son and making that so clever “check mate” sarcastic jab, on a point well made. She made several lasting friendships. For all who knew Jean, both family, and friends, and past coworkers alike, they knew a compassionate and loving friend. No one was more important and loved than her junior high school classmate, Nancy Piccone of Portland, ME. They both would establish a loving and caring bond between them for over 70 years. Jean will always be remembered as someone who took the phrase “work ethic” as a goal to be achieved daily without compromise. Everyone who knew her would soon come to realize that her stainless character and moral integrity were above reproach. She had a realistic, commonsense approach with life that was as wide as a 360-degree circle and as deep as the Pacific Ocean. Her hobbies included weekly visits to the Hollis and Nashua Libraries. Her membership in the Nashua YMCA allowed her to meet and maintain several life-long friendships. She enjoyed the occasional bus ride and day trips to sight see in New York

City. She enjoyed classical music like Vivaldi and Mozart’s Requiem Mass, as well as Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, B.B King, “Sting”, Carole King, and Elvis Presley, of course! To only name but a few.

A coworker asked her one day while observing Jean readying the paper: “You don’t read every page, do you?” She loved watching classic British TV, magazines on the lives of the famous and collecting postcards, growing plants in her house and in her yard, watching a Lilac bush blossom into a monster. I will always see her in all these old familiar places.

After moving to New Hampshire, she loved visiting her lifelong friend, Nancy Piccone and cousin, Donna Forest, in Maine. She sent newspaper clippings, jokes, cartoons and political events, local happenings to her brother Richard in Cape Elizabeth, Maine.

Jean loved The Lord, loved worshipping Him at the Nashua Presbyterian church, mingling with other parishioners, making friends. She appreciated her Hollis Market Place friendships where she lived in a cozy plant filled, sun filled, music-filled apartment with Mia. It was so easy to make friends with Jean.

Jean loved bringing her daughter, Michele, and granddaughter Laura to see the baby cows in the neighboring field. I think Laura wanted to take one home.

She will be remembered for her love of family, gatherings at her home and in Brockton at her daughter’s house; bringing Makaliee for weekends at her home in Hollis, dressed in the prettiest little girl dresses you’ve ever seen as they attended church.

The family wishes to especially acknowledge all of her special friendships she made while living in The Hollis Village at 6 Market Place with the watchful and lovingly compassionate care attended to her. They will miss her greatly as her son is well aware. From ALL of my mother’s family, again, thank you for your care, compassion and friendship.

A celebration of Jean’s life, her love of God, love of reading, love of animals, and love for life, will be held on Saturday, February 22, 2025, at Hobbs Funeral Home, 230 Cottage Road, in South Portland, Maine. Visiting hours will be from 12-3 p.m. and the service will be at 3 p.m. with a reception to follow.

We do not say goodbye but: “’till we meet again in glory”.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center via their website. pawcatuckneighborhoodcenter.org