Eleanor (Carver) Nolan, 75, of Chamberlain, died Feb. 27; peacefully at home in the care of her loving husband John. Born in Turner on Feb. 15, 1933, Eleanor was the daughter of Alton and Doris (Libby) Carver.
Eleanor graduated from Buckfield High School in 1951. In Buckfield she was active in softball and 4-H. As a junior leader in 4-H she won trips to Washington DC, Chicago, and Eastern States Exhibition.
She graduated from Bates College in 1956 with a degree in Nursing. At Syracuse University Eleanor graduated with a Masters in Nursing Education. She went on to teach nursing at Upstate Medical Center and then started the nursing program at Cazenovia College.
Ellie gave the next 20-something years of her life to raising five children: Mike, Meg, Peter, Tim and Marianne.
Ellie served as camp nurse at the YMCA camp in Winthrop while she was in college and again in the late 1970s.
She and John welcomed sons- and daughters-in-law: Kim Nolan, Jim Gerritsen, Diane Nolan, Nanci Nolan and Tim Cowan. She loved her 14 grandchildren: Brian, Julianne, Erik and Evan Nolan; Peter, Caleb, Sarah and Amy Gerritsen; Konner and Gillian Nolan; Rick and Alex Nolan; and Patrick and Kaitlyn Cowan. She enjoyed being a grandmother and spent many hours playing games and cards and coloring with all of them.
In 2000 Ellie and John left Cazenovia, N.Y., found their home site in Chamberlain, overlooking the ocean and built their dream home to welcome family and friends.
Ellie loved Maine and the ocean. She loved life – her beloved husband, her 14 grandchildren and all her family, her church, her friends, nature, music, her flower gardens, her dogs, traveling, tennis, and skiing. Wherever she was, her laughter filled the space and cheered family and friends.
She was an active church member, singing in the choirs at St. Patrick’s (Newcastle) and St. James (Cazenovia) Churches, working on the St. Patrick’s Day Dinner, teaching elementary school religious education at St. James. She enjoyed being a minister of communion. She was also an active volunteer for her 50th Bates College Alumni reunion.
She was predeceased by her fourth and youngest sister, Faith Decoster, and by her parents.
Eleanor will be missed by her sisters, Margaret Choate and Hilda Swan, both of Brewer.
Visiting hours for Ellie 6-8 p.m. Mon., March 3, at the Strong Funeral Home in Damariscotta and the funeral service 11 a.m. Tues., March 4, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network: www.pancan.org or Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 2141 Rosecrans Ave., Suite 7000, El Segundo, CA 90245, 877-272-6226.
