Elinor McFarlane Shuman

PORTLAND - Elinor McFarlane Shuman, 85 of Portland, died Wednesday November 23, 2011 at St. Joseph's Rehab and Residence. She was born in Portland on March 4, 1926 a daughter of James M. and Mildred Maloney McFarlane. Elinor attended local schools and was a 1943 graduate of Deering High School. Following high school she began working as a secretary for Sidney Schwartz. On June 25, 1949, she married Arnold L. Shuman and began to raise a family. Arnold died in 1955 leaving Elinor a widow at age 29 to raise four children. After her husband's death, Sidney Schwartz contacted her and allowed her to work from her home. This act of kindness by Mr. Schwartz, allowed her to be a fulltime mother and provide the family with an income. As her family grew older, she returned to a more traditional work environment. For many years, she worked for National Medical Care and for Maine Central Rail Road. Elinor later worked for Union Mutual Insurance, retiring from UNUM in 1993. While working in the field of insurance, she presented motivational speeches to the National Association of Life Underwriters, on the value of life insurance. Family and religion were central values in her life. Elinor was a devout Catholic and was an active communicant at St. Patrick's Church. She served there as a Eucharistic Minister. At St. Patrick's, she was a member of the School Board, the Mother's Club and the Women's Council. She also belonged to the Cheverus High School Mother's Club. Elinor was a visible and active member of the community. She volunteered at the USO during World War II, was a television fashion model for Bernie's Fashions, participated in charity events, and was a member of the National Secretaries Association. She was an avid walker and familiar figure walking to and from work on Congress Street; always elegantly dressed. Elinor was predeceased by her parents, husband Arnold, a sister Dorothea M. Connolly, and two brothers, Vernon T. McFarlane and Vincent McFarlane; and a special friend, Robert L. Brewster. Survivors include three daughters, Nancy Clark and her husband Stanley of Parsonsfield, Julie Rowles of Gorham, and Susan Shuman-Collins and her husband Gary of Westbrook; a son Scott M. Shuman and his wife Dot of West Buxton; a sister Joanne Falcone and her husband Joseph of Portland; a sister-in-law Sheila Shuman of Utica NY; six grandchildren, Amy Rose Clark, Travis Emerson Clark and his wife Melinda, Kristin L. Wing and her husband Paul, Jarrod J. Rowles, Jordan H. Rowles, Noah J.M. Collins; two great grandchildren, Jayden Wing and Ryleigh Wing; and "adopted daughters", Leigh Quinn and Candace Hancock, and many special nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and cousins. The family would like to extend a special thanks and their heartfelt gratitude to the staffs at St. Joseph's Rehab and Residence and Mercy Hospital Emergency and Telemetry Units. Their compassion and gentle professional manner were of great comfort to Ele during her illness and far exceeded standard medical practice. Visitation will be held 4:00 - 8:00 pm on Monday November 28, 2011 at Conroy-Tully Crawford Funeral Home, 172 State Street, Portland. Prayers will be recited at 10:15 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home followed by an 11:00 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Patrick's Church, 1342 Congress Street, Portland. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery, South Portland. Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, Maine Chapter, 383 US Route One, Suite 2C, Scarborough, ME 04074. Online Condolences for Elinor Shuman