Thelma E. Simpson

On Tuesday, August 25th under a bright blue sky and full sun, Thelma Elizabeth (Burbank) Simpson passed on peacefully in her beloved home of 60 years with her three children, Jeff, Karen, and Beth by her side. Thelma was 95 years young and truly expected to live forever.

Thelma was born on April 28th, 1931 in Alfred to Forrest and Gladys (Lord) Burbank. She grew up on the family dairy farm on Shaker Pond along with her siblings, Carroll “Bub” and Muriel.
Thelma had fond memories and many beloved stories of those years on the farm… walking up to the pasture across the road with her sister to bring the cows home for milking, skating on the pond, sledding in the moonlight with her friends from “up in the Gore”, and playing dolls with her sister and her cousins. She was an excellent pianist and was proud to remember that she was asked to play all of the music for her Eighth Grade Graduation ceremony at the Alfred Grammar School.

Thelma was a member of the Sanford High School class of 1949. She served as class treasurer and secretary among other activities. In the years that followed graduation, she helped organize many class reunions.

She worked at Garnsey Brothers Insurance Co. after school during her senior year of high school as a bookkeeper. After high school, she worked as a bookkeeper and secretary in the office at Goodall Mills where she continued until her first child was born.

Thelma met her husband, Benjamin Franklin Simpson Jr. in 1950 on a blind date partially orchestrated by Ben’s brother. They were married in 1952 in Sanford where they raised their three children. Thelma and Ben were married for almost 69 years until his passing in August of 2021.

When her children were young, Thelma worked in the office at Batchelder Brothers Insurance and also did the payroll for Romac Orchards. In 1970, she accepted a job in the office of the new Shaw’s Supermarket in Sanford where she worked until her retirement.

Thelma was a member of the Beta Sigma Phi service sorority for 70 years. Her sorority sisters became some of her closest friends. She looked forward to their monthly meetings, yearly dances, and helping with the organizations and causes they supported.

Thelma was extremely generous, gracious, and kind. Throughout her life, even when she was busy with a family of her own, she always made time to help or just spend time with her elderly family members and neighbors. Over the years, she was a blessing to so many people beyond just her family. Her sweet welcoming smile is what everyone will remember about her.
Thelma loved babysitting her grandchildren and looked forward to visits from them and her great-grandchildren. She so enjoyed family vacations, especially time spent at Mousam Lake, Square Pond, and in the White Mountains.

Thelma loved to cook and bake. She baked beans every Saturday and her beloved “hermits” were always a requested item at family gatherings. She was an amazing seamstress – making most of her own clothes in high school and she continued making many beautiful clothes for her and her daughters including stunning prom dresses. In retirement, Thelma took up watercolor painting and painted many beautiful landscapes that are treasured by her family.

Thelma was a member of the Christian Science Society for many years. She enjoyed attending services on Sunday mornings with her parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. She was the treasurer of the church for many years and served on numerous committees. Up until recently, she looked forward to going to church every week with her special cousin Eleanor and good friend Joan.

As part of what farming life entails, she was very interested in the weather throughout her life and kept close track of expected changes and patterns and also the phases of the moon. The weather on the day she passed on was her favorite – dry, clear, and sunny with a nearly full moon that evening. She loved being outdoors on a beautiful day enjoying nature, but above all else she deeply loved her family more than anything.

Thelma was predeceased by her parents, her husband, her brother, Carroll Lord Sr, her sister, Muriel (Burbank) Lachance; as well as her sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, a nephew, a niece, and many special cousins, aunts, and uncles.

She will be deeply missed by her three children and their spouses – Jeffrey and his wife, Priscilla, of North Berwick; Karen Peterson and her husband, Ralph, of Chelsea; and Beth Simpson-Robie and her husband, Glenn, of Kennebunk; eight grandchildren – Daniel Simpson; Emily Underwood and her husband, Justin; Steven Simpson; Laura Gervais and her husband, Brandon; Kelley Zrioka and her husband, Oliver; Carlton Robie, Anna Peterson, and Forrest Robie; and her eight great grandchildren – Lyle Simpson; Josephine, Caroline, and William Underwood; Everett and Anderson Gervais; and Hattie and Margo Zrioka. As well as her special cousin, Lynne Simpson Smith, who was the flower girl at her wedding, and her dear sister-in-law, Joan Lord, “Aunt Thelma” will also be greatly missed by many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, and their spouses, children, and grandchildren. She remained particularly close with her Burbank and Carpenter cousins and looked forward to opportunities to gather, visit, and reminisce with them.

The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to Rolly Legere and Judy Fortier for their loving and professional home care provided over the past many years, as well as the safety and care provided by our lifelong neighbor and friend, Nancy Blanchard Campbell, RN.

Our gratitude is also extended to Megan, Nicole, Jen, Cecilia, and the team at Amedisys/Wentworth Home Care and Hospice for the additional support and loving care they provided over the past several months.

The family is planning a private graveside service at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, contributions will be graciously received for the Alfred Village Museum. Checks should be made payable to the Town of Alfred and marked as a donation in Thelma’s memory to the Alfred Village Museum. The mailing address for the Town of Alfred is 16 Saco Road, P.O. Box 850, Alfred, ME 04002.