Jean L. Carlisle
May 10, 1951 ~ January 8, 2025
Resided in:
Sanford, Maine
Jean Hazelton Carlisle passed away at Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough, ME on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, with her children by her side.
Born in Biddeford ME on May 10, 1951, Jean was the daughter of George (“Lee”) Hazelton and Eleanor Simpson Hazelton. She graduated from Thornton Academy in 1969 and attended the University of Maine, Farmington, where she met Allan Carlisle. They married in 1972.
Jean liked to stay busy. When her children were older, this drive to work combined with a passion for language and teaching led her back to school at the University of Southern Maine, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Education in 1988. She was proud of her long career in education at Sanford schools, including Emerson School and Carl J. Lamb, and was a positive force in the lives of her many students. Her retirement years were spent enjoying time with her grandchildren, going out for lunch and shopping with dear friends, and becoming an expert on British procedural crime dramas. Jean was funny, with a dry wit that remained until the end.
She was pre-deceased by her parents; infant son, Jason Carlisle; husband, Allan Carlisle; sister, Kathryn Savage; and great-niece, Eleanor Paye.
She is survived by daughter Jessica Carlisle (Jeremiah Buckley) of Roswell, GA, daughter Sarah Huntington (Steve Huntington) of Scarborough, ME, and son Daniel Carlisle (Megan Hill) of New Port Richey, FL. Surviving grandchildren are Jonas, Helen, and Alice Buckley; Emily, Seth, Noah, and Gabriel Huntington; and Alyssa, Meghan, and Nicole Carlisle. She is also survived by many cousins, nieces, nephews, and life-long friends, including her brother-in-law, Kevin Savage.
Services are private. Burial will be at Oakdale Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Power of Elle in memory of her great-niece.
Power of Elle
c/o Shawn Walton
Saco and Biddeford Savings
252 Main Street
Saco, Maine 04072
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My heartfelt condolences to all of Jean’s family. I taught first grade and kindergarten with Jean in the same classroom for almost twenty years. She not only was an excellent teacher to kids but she taught me so much about how to be a teacher and especially of literacy. She was a pro! I will be forever grateful that I had those years of teaching and friendship with Jean and the memories from those years will remain in my heart. 💛
I first met Jean and her sister Kathy when they attended Sunday School with my sister and I at the Unitarian-Universalist church in Saco during the late 1950s. We became classmates in the 5th grade at Burns School in 1961, continuing through our graduation at Thornton Academy in 1969. Alan, a fellow classmate remarked after hearing of Jean’s passing: “Jean was a big part of what made our class so special. Her obituary reflects a life that was both impressive and meaningful.” Reflecting on Jean’s teaching career, the words of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk describes Jean’s commitment to and her love of teaching: “A good teacher is like a candle; it consumes itself to light the way for others.” Jean was like that candle. We all shall miss her.
Jean brought light to the darkness.
My sincerest condolences to the family . Jean was a neighbor and I enjoyed our conversations.
Jean worked with my wife Margaret for many years at Emerson School until the school was closed. Margaret went to Margaret Chase Smith as admin secretary.
Margaret always spoke highly of Jean. Margaret and Jean were both about the same age. Margaret passed away at Gosnell House in Scarborough November 5th, 2024. I miss her very much.