Eleanor G. Houde

Eleanor Grace Houde, 93, formerly a resident of Sanford, Maine, most recently a resident of Pine Point Nursing Facility in Scarborough, Maine, passed on Thursday, January 26th, 2012 surrounded by her family.Eleanor was born on June 26, 1918 in Dover, New Hampshire to her parents, George Robinson and Alice Shuffelburg. Eleanor was predeceased by her parents, her husband, Aime Joseph Houde and her siblings, Melnot Robinson, George Robinson, Andrew Robinson, Elwyn Robinson, Nellie Philips, Peg Levigne, Polly Ratliff, Lucille Noonan, Dorothy Wing, Glenna Moore and Mary Pearl Robinson. She is survived by her sister, Phyllis Lock of Glenwood Arkansas, her brother Edmund Robinson of West Kennebunk, Maine and her daughters, Anna E. Vander Schaff of Rancho Alcocer, Guanajuato, Mexico and Cecilia C. Houde of Village Plaplaya, Gracias A-dious, Honduras. She now watches over her six grandchildren, seventeen great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.Eleanor, "Arr", "Mom" "Aunt Eleanor", "Grammy", " Great Grammy", "McGee", as many knew her, was a strong, self-sustaining woman deeply connected to her faith. She was a long-time parishioner of St. Ignatius Parish and was often seen at home reading through her Bible and praying her rosary. She enjoyed watching mass on the television and making clothes for Infant of Prague statues that she would then give away. She loved her family and often shared stories of growing up at Old Falls where her father helped run the power plant. She was strong in that she not only survived the Great Fire of 1947, but also the Great Depression, the absence of her husband during World War II and being alone after his passing 24 years ago. She was a very proud person; proud of her home, which her husband of 46 years built, her country, her roots and the family she helped to create. She cared deeply about all veterans and often gave generously and wrote letters to men and women overseas as well as to disabled veterans. Eleanor had a soft spot for animals and was always known to have a dog by her side; most recently was her beloved, Melnot. She too gave generously to the Animal Refuge League.In addition to taking care of her two daughters and her home, Eleanor worked for many years at the Sanford Mills. She also assisted with the home income by working as a waitress, a chambermaid and by selling her beautiful gladiolas, freshly picked strawberries and blueberries. Eleanor enjoyed going for rides, especially to the beach, the White Mountains and all of the back roads where she was raised. She loved going out to eat, especially to the Cockpit Cafe and Billy's Chowder House. She enjoyed caring for her family, baking pies, making her homemade fudge, crocheting beautiful doilies, growing gladiolas, gardening, picking mayflowers, lilacs, strawberries and blueberries, playing cards, sewing, bowling and visiting with family and friends. She also loved to tease and appreciated people who understood her quick-witted humor.Please be at peace with knowing that Eleanor is finally home and is at rest with her husband, mother, father and all her loved ones who have gone before her.A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday at 11AM at St. Therese of Lisieux Parish, Holy Family Church. Visiting hours will be from 9AM until 10:45AM on Saturday at the Lafrance-Lambert & Black Funeral Home, 29 Winter Street, Sanford.Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider donations in her memory to the Alzheimer's Association, Maine Chapter, 383 US Route One, Suite 2C, Scarborough, Maine 04074. Condolences may be expressed at www.blackfuneralhomes.com