Mary Major
Privacy Level: Public (Green)

Mary Helen Major (1934 - 2021)

Mary Helen Major
Born in Lewiston, Androscoggin Maine USAmap
Ancestors ancestors
Sister of , [private brother (1930s - unknown)], , [private brother (1930s - unknown)], [private brother (1940s - unknown)], [private brother (1940s - unknown)], , [private sister (1940s - unknown)], [private sister (1950s - unknown)] and [private brother (1950s - unknown)]
Wife of [private husband (1930s - 1990s)]
[children unknown]
Died at age 87 in Lewiston, Androscoggin, Maine, United Statesmap
Problems/Questions Profile manager: Pamjoy Major private message [send private message]
Profile last modified | Created 25 Aug 2014
This page has been accessed 45 times.

Biography

Lovely Lady, m. Richard Pitman Elwell 45 yrs, till he passed. 4 kids, 6 grandkids, 4 great grdkids.. {Went to the Funeral; had to go thru like 6 towns, & 2 counties to get there. Funeral was nice. Uncle J did a great Job telling slight more memorable times. Started to Rain, so dad & I went to the Lions Club for the reception..}

Lewiston – Mary H. (Major) Elwell, 87, of Wilton / Turner, Maine, passed away on Saturday, June 12, 2021, St. Mary's D'Youville Pavillion. Mary was born on Jan. 31, 1934, in Lewiston, Maine, to David and Veronica (Sturtevant) Major of West Minot, Maine. She graduated from Edward Little High School in Auburn, Maine, in 1952. She continued her education at UMF and Leadership Courses through the years. Married to Richard "Dick" Elwell in 1952 and they had four children. In 1966 they purchased the Mountain View Orchard farm on Orchard Drive in Wilton, Maine. In 1968 they opened The Apple Core farm stand in East Wilton. The Apple Core was known for its cider, apples, donuts, cinnamon twists (lamb's tails), lobster and Christmas trees.

Mary was very involved with the University of Maine Extension Service holding many offices and serving on the State Board. At the Extension Service she rose to the President of Maine Extension Homemakers (1988-1990), Vice President Eastern Region Public Policy Director for Family and Community Education (1991-1994) and the National Foundation Board of Directors, Family and Community Education (1994-1996). While on the National Foundation, Mary was very involved in the Children and Television Education Project. Mary and Bob Keeshan (Captain Kangaroo) performed together at the national meeting to promote children education through television programming.

She was instrumental in the creation of the Children's Television Network on PBS and the revised movie rating system in use today. In 1991, as part of the Bridges for Peace delegation to Russia, Mary went to Russia as a peace ambassador with the Maine delegation. The Bridges of Peace organization sent people from the USA to Soviet Union, followed by people from Soviet Union to the USA, to create better understanding and relationships between the two countries. Mary was visiting a school in Siberia when she mentioned she had seen everything but a reindeer. A short time later she was notified that a Soviet Military helicopter was en-route to the school to transport her to see a reindeer herd in the arctic circle. Mary got to touch, feed and ride in a reindeer drawn sleigh courtesy of the Soviet Military and a local farmer.

The next summer Mary hosted the delegation from the USSR. Mary brought the delegation to her favorite place on earth, CAMP. The USSR Communist Party Leader, Sergei Skvortsov, was very impressed with the freedom of movement and the local grocery store. The delegation was overwhelmed by the abundance of ice cream choices available because Mary had forgotten to purchase the Butter Brickle Ice Cream. The delegation originally thought the store was USA propaganda, but after observing shoppers, came to realize it was a normal grocery store in America.

Mary was a Career Counselor and Job Developer for Western Maine Community Action Career Center (1981-2000), Housing Director at Rural Community Action Ministry-RCAM (2001-2006), and Loan Officer RCAM (2006-2009).

Mary's hobbies include quilting, painting, scrapbooking, and embroidery. She loved being at camp surrounded by family and friends more than anything.

The family would like to thank the staff at St. Mary's D'Youville Pavilion for their compassionate care and love for Mary. In remembrance of Mary's life, the family asks that any charitable donations be made to your favorite charity or please consider helping someone today, tomorrow, and every day that is not having a good or safe day. Mary will be missed...

Family and friends are invited to call at the Wiles Remembrance Center, 137 Farmington Falls Road (Rt 2 & 27), Farmington, Monday, June 21, 2021 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. A Mass of Christian

Sources

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/228616300/mary-helen-elwell

https://www.wilescremationcare.com/memorials/mary-elwell/4643535/index.php





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Mary Helen Elwell
Mary Helen Elwell



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