Rachel E. Alward
1928 – 2009 

GREENE — Rachel E. Alward, 81, a resident of Meadow Hill Road in Greene, died Wednesday, Nov. 25, at her residence, surrounded by her family.

She was born Aug. 15, 1928, in Livermore, the daughter of Reginald “Reggie” and Sarah “Sadie” (Turner) Hammond. She was a 1945 graduate of Leavitt Institute in Turner and unable to go onto college, she went to work for her mother at Hammond Nursing Home in Turner and at CMG Hospital in Lewiston.

After marrying R.K. Buckley and having their four children, she continued to work hard and long hours in the health care field. She went to work for Wm. Sullivan and worked for him for many years at his four nursing homes. She became administrator for him and ran his homes as he was a traveler and confident of her ability to handle all day to day operations in his absence. Upon Mr. Sullivan’s death, she then inherited Grandview Nursing Home and proceeded to operate and eventually purchased the remaining three homes, Pease and High Street in Auburn and Resthaven in Patten. After this achievement, she eventually became owner of seven ICF facilities in Maine known to most as Greene Acres Inc. In 1972, she sold Greene Acres Inc. to Central Maine Health Care.

She was an avid reader. She enjoyed yard sales, her own cats and Tommy’s Feral cats. She loved spending time with her great-grandchildren and especially meeting her newest grandson, Jake, when he visited this summer.

She is survived by her children, Gailene Buckley of Livermore Falls, Jolene Andre and her husband, Francis, of Leeds, Miles H. Buckley and his wife, Andrea, of Arizona, and Doreen Maheux and her husband, Larry, of Livermore Falls; her stepson, Bob Alward and his wife, Nancy, of Sabattus; eight grandchildren, Ronald Turcotte and his wife, Marcia, Melissa Black and her husband, Keith, Jason Buckley and his wife, Rebecca, Stephen Solares, Daniel and Jake Buckley and Michelle and Christine Alward; seven great-grandchildren, Megan and Matthew Turcotte, Emily and Shane Murphy, Ashley and Lillie Black and Oria Buckley; her brothers, Carlton “Billy” Hammond and his wife, Barbara, of Turner and Barry Hammond and his wife, Ann, of Livermore; her sister, Margaret Pratt of Livermore; and many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her parents; her first husband, R.K. Buckley in 1999; her second husband, A.E. Alward this year; and her daughter-in-law, Phyllis Ann Buckley in 1972.

Special thanks to Ellie Gordon, Dicky Haley, April Pulkkinen, Bella Chretien, John Pulsifer, Cindy and Gerry Ouellette, Peggy Boucher, Marianne Davis, Elaine Buckley, Randy Melville and a very special thanks from the family to Dr. and Mrs. Manuel Sangalang.