HOPE — Joy Diane Gould Brown, 83, formerly of Hope, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, May 1, 2021 at MaineGeneral Rehabilitation & Long Term Care - Glenridge.

Revelation 21:4 “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Joy was born on June 15, 1937, in Belfast, and was the daughter of Lucius and Mildred (Bessey) Gould. Joy graduated from Crosby High School, Class of 1955.

After graduating, Joy worked as a telephone operator and throughout the years, she enjoyed a variety of other careers; a clerk in the Kennebec District Court, cashier at a supermarket, elementary school cook, girls summer camp cook. After marrying Alan Brown in 1978, together they owned and operated a school bus service for the Hope school district.

Joy loved the Lord and was blessed with many gifts. She enjoyed gardening with her husband Alan and sharing their bounty with family and friends. She loved her flower gardens, bird watching, long walks, reading, cooking, dancing and music; she sang in the church choir as a teenager. Joy and Alan also enjoyed camping, often times taking their grandchildren and, after retirement; they traveled in their camper visiting many of the military bases around the United States. They travelled all the way to Alaska, down through California, New Mexico, saw the Grand Canyon in Arizona and enjoyed many winters in Florida.

The family would like to express their appreciation for the outstanding care, compassion, and kindness shown to Joy during her stay at both Gardiner Alzheimer’s and MaineGeneral Rehabilitation & Long Term Care - Glenridge. They allowed her to live each day in dignity and strength. Even though this disease took her memories, Joy remained kind, compassionate and caring. She made many friends and found new ways to share her light with them.

Joy is survived by her sister, Judy Olsen and her husband, Kerry of Ellsworth; her brother Jerry Gould and his companion, Ellie Groover of Belfast; her four children; daughter Lynn Wood and her husband, Dan of Winterport; son Larry Faulkinham of Pittston; daughter Leeann Verhille and her husband, Gary of Palermo; son Loel “Pete” Faulkinham of Augusta; three stepchildren, Michael Brown and his wife, Wendy of Camden; Matt Brown and his wife, Alanna of South Thomaston; daughter, Maureen Clark and her husband, Scott of Prescott, Arizona; 11 grandchildren, Eric, Erin, Paige, Ben, Savannah, Jordan, Travis, McKenzie, Caitlin, Reuben, Autumn; and 14 great-grandchildren; as well as many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her parents, her husband Alan in 2017, and her nephew, Carlon Clark in 2021.

There will be a private graveside service held at Hope Grove Cemetery at a later date.

Condolence sand memories may be shared at www.longfuneralhomecamden.com. Memorial gifts may be made to Alzheimer’s Association www.alz.org.

Arrangements are with the Long Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 9 Mountain Street, Camden.