Joan S. Cross

SKOWHEGAN – Joan S. Cross, born June 3, 1934, in Madison, to the late Alfred L. “Johnny” and Marie A. S. (Hoxie) Saultes, passed away peacefully on the evening of May 3, 2026, at the Redington Memorial Home, surrounded by family. She was the beloved wife of the late Robert B. Cross Jr. “Bob” whom she married on Nov. 22, 1952.

Joan graduated from Madison High School in 1952. While in high school, Joan and identical twin sister, Jean, were cheerleaders, and Joan worked at the Birches Ice Cream Stand, where Bob would stop by. She was a longtime resident of Skowhegan, devoting her time to her family and community. In the early 1960s, Joan worked at the Federal Trust and at the Skowhegan Savings Bank. Joan’s husband, Bob, managed one of the family businesses, Cross Hardware, and she joined him in the business for its last 34 years until its sale in 1997. Joan actively participated in several organizations. She and Bob were members of the Skowhegan Area Chamber of Commerce, and they received the Chamber’s Heritage Award for 59 years of service. Joan belonged to the Semper Fidelis Club and served as president in 1963. She was also a long-time member of Skowhegan’s Bloomfield Garden Club and served for several years on the town planning board. She belonged to the Order of the Eastern Star, Minerva Chapter, and was a member of the Federated Church of Skowhegan. Her proudest community contribution was as a longtime board member (27 years) for the Redington Memorial Home, during which time she actively participated in its expansion project, completed in 2007.

While working as bookkeeper for Cross Hardware, Joan was also the store’s buyer for housewares and home décor. She loved decorating the store’s front windows, arranging displays, and gift-wrapping for many occasions. Joan took pride in her home and loved decorating throughout as the seasons changed.

Holiday dinners at their home, summer cookouts at their camp at Pleasant Pond in Caratunk, or a chocolate cake or cream pie made with Bob in mind, meant something good could always be found in her kitchen. Her children vividly recall childhood memories of their mother, always busy: standing at the ironing board with American Bandstand playing in the background; picking out fabric for their new dresses; bringing in stiff sheets from the clothesline, even in February. Joan and her sister, Jean, both loved Longaberger baskets and, for several years, as consultants, they enjoyed trips together to Dresden, Ohio. Joan only slowed to phone a friend or relative, or to enjoy summer afternoon cocktails on the porch with Jean and their husbands, watching the water and the hummingbirds, as their extended families orbited about them.

Joan is survived by her children, Rebecca (Christopher) Young of Caratunk, Cynthia (Mark) Junco of Raymond, Robert (Valerie) Cross of Bryant Pond; her brother, William (Frances) Saultes of Madison; grandchildren, Sarah Young (Jainen Thayer) of Des Moines, Iowa, Geoffrey (Kayla) Young of Lisbon, Ryan Cross of Malta, N.Y.; great-grandchildren, Georgiana and Edward Thayer of Des Moines, Iowa, Khloe and Wyatt Young of Lisbon, Allison and Caroline Cross of Malta, N.Y.; and many nieces and nephews.

Joan was predeceased by her husband, Robert Cross Jr.; twin sister, Jean Piper of Chelmsford, Mass., sister, Ellen Florence, who died at 14 months; and grandson, Capt. Benjamin Robert Cross.

The family would like to thank the staff at Redington Memorial Home and Beacon Hospice Care for their empathy and professional, loving care.

A celebration of life will be held in late summer with a date to be determined.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the following organizations in Joan’s memory are welcome:

Redington Memorial

Home’s Gardens Project

Skowhegan, ME 04976

Beacon Hospice Care

5 Community Dr., Suite A

Augusta, ME 04330