Joan McLean Hale Leonard passed away peacefully on January 3, 2026, at the age of 86. Joan was born on July 17, 1939, to Myrtleen Frances Snow McLean and James Albert McLean, and she built a life marked by joy, faith, and devotion to her family. Joan grew up in Millinocket, ME, and graduated from Stearns High School in 1957. She then moved to Boston and graduated from Boston University in 1961. Her first job was on Wall Street where her interest in investing started and flourished. She fell in love with Bill Hale, a fellow BU student from Millinocket, who had been her carpool partner to and from Maine for various college breaks. They married on September 15, 1962. Together, Joan and Bill built a family, welcoming their first son Bill Jr in 1966 and their second son Jamie in 1970. Joan relished in the joy of raising two sons and the accompanying flurry of activity. She was a dedicated and fiercely loyal mom with an adventurous spirit. That adventurous spirit culminated in a trip around the world during Bill's sabbatical year. They took their boys to Samoa, Tahiti, Moorea, Rangiroa, Bora-Bora, New Zealand, Australia, Mauritius, and then Botswana where they lived for almost a year. They then visited eight more countries on the way home. They built many lifelong memories together as they built their family. Tragically, Joan and the boys lost Bill to a heart attack in 1982 when he was only 47 years old. She was comforted by the verse from Romans 8:28, "All things work together for good for those who love the Lord and are called according to his purpose." While she did not understand why Bill had died so young and struggled with that verse, too, it was ultimately what she clung to as she continued to raise her boys on her own. Joan's love of travel led her to start working at TWA airlines after Bill, her husband, passed away, so she could see her son, Bill, in the Netherlands and travel with Jamie during school breaks. She took many trips with her beloved father, dear friends, and her boys, enjoying the wonders of the Netherlands, Egypt, Thailand, Vietnam, Scotland, England, Hong Kong, and more. We think she has been to over 40 different countries and she loved them all for their different cultures, art, food — and for how they shaped her and her outlook on life. Joan's life was full of traveling, art, dancing, and reading. She was an avid painter and was particularly talented with watercolors. At weddings and parties, she could always be found on the dance floor or celebrating with her infectious laugh. In her quieter moments she read with enthusiasm, and let books introduce her to even more of the world. Joan was a member of Park Street Church in Boston and was extensively involved over the years as a trustee and member of many committees. Her cherished Bible study group was a source of learning and a community full of dear friends for many years who shared life together in Christ. As her children grew and built families of their own, she became a grandmother to 7. She passed along her love of investing to each of them, sharing the wisdom of her strategies that built her financial freedom despite losing the family's primary income source so early. "Nana" to her California grandchildren and "Oma" to her Dutch grandchildren, she was a constant source of support, encouragement, and fun. She was the "Warren Buffett" of the family preaching long term value investing with low costs. Later in life, Joan married Ralph Leonard on August 12, 2017, and they enjoyed over 8 years of a wonderful life together. They traveled extensively, played cards competitively, spent time with friends and family in Old Town, Cold Stream Pond, and Daytona Beach, and planned adventures. They visited with their precious families at various locations, from California, Florida, Hawaii, the Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium, and many others. Joan and Ralph remained involved in activities at her Alma Mater, Boston University, and his Alma Mater, West Point Military Academy. They stayed active at her church, Park Street Church in Boston and his church, the Old Town United Methodist Church. Joan felt very blessed to have Ralph in her life and called her years with him a great love affair. Joan is survived by her beloved husband Ralph, her son Bill and his wife Keete of Ottoland, Netherlands; her son Jamie and his wife Laura of Menlo Park, CA. She is also survived through her extended family with Ralph by his son Kent Leonard and wife Lisa of Hermon, ME; his daughter Lauri Reichel and husband Fred of Hampden, ME ; and his daughter Lynda Leonard of Stillwater, ME. She is also survived by many grandchildren and great-grandchildren from both families. Relatives and friends are welcome to visit Friday, January 9, from 5:30-7pm at Birmingham Funeral Home, 438 Main Street, Old Town, ME. A service will be held the following morning on January 10 at Old Town United Methodist Church at 10am. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Joan's name to Park Street Church in Boston, MA, Old Town United Methodist Church in Old Town, ME, or the American Cancer Society. Those who knew Joan will remember her for her fun-loving energy, her effervescent spirit, her resilience and tenacity, and the countless big and small ways she showed her ove. She leaves behind a legacy that will forever remain in the hearts of her loved ones and will influence generations to come.