CAMDEN — Jonette Whitehead Hardester passed peacefully and comfortably on April 22, 2017, in the late afternoon, surrounded by her family. She is survived by her two children, Jennifer and Joshua; her stepson, Timothy; her uncle, Howard Whitehead; her three sisters, Dolores, Joy and Donella; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Born in Vancouver, Wash., on Oct. 11, 1945, Jonette raised her children through their college years in California. She and her two children were alumni of California Polytechnic State University, in San Luis Obispo. She retired in 2006 after teaching elementary school in the Evergreen School District for 23 years. She loved teaching and counted her students as her own children.

She retired to the familiar New England town of Camden, Maine, with her children. Joshua moved to Boston and worked in Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Mexico. Jennifer pursued her engineering career in Washington, D.C., after graduating from Cambridge University in the U.K. All three were able to tour England and Scotland together before establishing their home in an 1860s farmhouse in Camden.

In retirement, Jonette was an active volunteer for the Camden Public Library and Camden History Center. She was known for her monthly historical displays. She became an enthusiastic genealogist, researching her families' roots back to France, England, Scotland and Ireland.

She was a parishioner at Lakeview Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Rockport under the Rev. Stephen Tracey.

Her long battle with Leukemia was fought gallantly. She will be fondly remembered and missed.

There will be a reception for family and friends on Friday, April 28, at 1:30 p.m., followed by a funeral service at 2 p.m. at Lakeview Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Rockport. Burial will follow in Mountain View Cemetery in Camden.

Memorial gifts may be made in her memory to the Lakeview Orthodox Presbyterian Church, 188 Rockland Street, Rockport, ME 04856.

Arrangements are with Long Funeral Home.