Arlene Sturmer

Arlene Sturmer, a long time resident of the Sanford/Springvale area passed away quietly Friday night at the age of 87.She was born in Orono, Maine as Gertrude Arlene Davis, the oldest of a large family. She had a life filled with variety and industriousness, having worked at various times as a nurse, a guard and cook at the women's reformatory, and a chauffer to a blind university professor. She also helped operate a bakery, a dairy business, and a restaurant in Augusta where she cooked for the governor at that time.But her primary joys in life were always cooking for friends and family and caring for children. Several generations of children have affectionately called her Nana and been comforted and fed by her.Arlene was pre-deceased by her husband of 40 years, Russell C. Sturmer. She is survived by her sisters Dorothy Newfeld, Majorie Beckwith, and Jesse Pinkham; her brother Shirley Davis; three children David Gaudet, Nancy Sturmer-Hoar and her husband Eric, and John Sturmer and his wife Cheryl. She also enjoyed the company of her grandchildren: Sarah Hoar, Joshua Sturmer (and wife Emily), Jeremiah Sturmer, Katie Sturmer and Alex Sturmer. And she delighted in her great-grandaughter Maddelyn Polchies-Sturmer. She had other step-children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren with whom she had lost contact due to time and circumstances but cared for deeply.She resided for the last year and a half of her life at The Greenwood Center in Sanford where she was well cared for and loved by the staff and nurses and had many friendships with the other residents.She was a long time member of the Sanford and Springvale Congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses. A memorial service will be held for her at the Sanford Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses on Malcolm Avenue, Saturday, October 18, at 3:00 PM.