Obituary: Jana M. Whitten

Jana M. Whitten passed away at home after a brave battle with cancer on Sunday, June 26, 2022. Jana was born on July 6, 1977 to Joseph and Germaine Whitten (Rossignol) in Presque Isle Maine. She was the youngest of four and lovingly referred to as the “oops baby”. Jana grew up in Crouseville, ME where she made lifelong friends. She attended Washburn schools graduating in 1995. Jana was always proud of being from “The County,” and she loved talking about the adventures she had with “The Crouseville Crew” which included her lifelong friend Amy O’Donnell. Amy’s family became Jana’s second family and she loved them deeply.

Jana had a huge extended family with whom she shared many wonderful moments but it was her brothers William and Al Whitten along with their wives Tracy (Fox) & Tracy (Turcotte) whom she deeply admired and her sister Connie Markham with whom she shared her love of sea glassing. Jana loved being their little sister and having them as her very first friends in life. Their children, her nieces and nephews, were her heart. Robert, River, Rayne, Thyme, Winter, Zach, Willow and Dawson are creative, loving, adventurous, independent people and Jana was extremely proud of each of them. As for friends, Jana never met a stranger. She was known for her infectious laugh, her sarcasm, her loyalty, her generous nature and her smile. Jana was surrounded by a large circle of friends and their children who she thought of as family and they loved her greatly. She was magnetic, one in a million.

Jana had her share of great loves, but her wife, Adrienne, was the love of her life. In the years they had together they loved each other deeply and never missed an opportunity to go on an adventure, see a Red Sox game or laugh hysterically together and at each other. They truly enjoyed being together, it was obvious to anyone who saw them, and they made the best of every moment. Together they lived in Lewiston with Adrienne’s daughter Eden and their beloved four legged family members.

Jana was predeceased by her beloved mother, Germaine Whitten.

The family asks in lieu of flowers donations be sent to Special Olympics Maine in Jana’s memory. Jana proudly worked for more than 20 years with adults with disabilities. Through her work she formed lasting bonds with colleagues, clients and families. Jana attended the Summer Games in Orono each year to support the athletes. To ensure your entire donation stays in ME please submit donations via check to: Maine Special Olympics 525 Main St., Unit D, So. Portland, ME 04106. Please add Jana’s name to the memo line.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, July 31, 2022 from 12-4 pm at the Gendron Franco Center on Cedar St. in Lewiston, ME.