G. Eleanor Adams Loija

G. Eleanor Adams Loija, 97, of Shapleigh, passed away at her home on Friday, July 17, 2009. She was born in Cambridge, MA, on November 21, 1911, a daughter of Frank and Nellie (Smith) Adams. She graduated from Woburn High School, class of 1929. She earned her Bachelor and Masters Degrees from Boston University and her Doctorate from Columbia in New York.Her career as a psychiatric nurse spanned 50 years. Having worked at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, she also worked in Iowa, California, New York City, Kentucky and for the State of Massachusetts. Her focus was always on the health of the person rather than the illness.In Kentucky she learned to fly and had her own plane. She played the violin and was an artist, working with water colors. An avid reader and gardener, she was a member of the Sierra Club, the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association. She was on the School Board for SAD 57 and established a health council in Shapleigh. On her 92nd birthday she bought herself a T-bird convertible. She was a member of the Sanford Unitarian-Universalist ChurchShe is predeceased by her husband, W. Edwin Loija who passed away in 2003. She is also predeceased by two sisters, Dorothy Adams Phillips and Mildred Adams Danforth.Survivors include nieces and nephews and a special friend, Sidney Emory.Those who may wish to make a donation in memory of Eleanor, may contribute to the Shapleigh Fire Department, c/o Chief Duane Romano, PO Box 15, Shapleigh, Maine 04076 or to the Hospice of Southern Maine, 180 Route 1, Scarborough, Maine 04074 or to the Acadia Health Care, 435 Main Street, Springvale, Maine 04083.A Memorial Meeting will be announced at a later date.Arrangements are under the direction of the Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home, 580 Main Street, Springvale. To leave the family a message of condolence please use the "condolences" tab to the left.