ORONO — Mildred Edith Covell, 98, passed away unexpectedly Nov. 21, at EMMC, surrounded by her loving family.

She was born June 27, 1914, in Orono, daughter of Henry Tewksbury Covell and Eva Laura (Goodine) Covell. She spent her adolescent years in Orono and Willimantic, Conn.

Mildred graduated from Monmouth Academy in 1932 and continued her education at the University of Maine in Orono. She took a year off from college to assist her mother when her brother, Waldo, was born in 1933. She admitted that she did not know any lullabies so she sang the “Maine Stein Song” to quiet her baby brother. Mildred graduated with a B.S. in home economics in 1937. She was a proud UMaine graduate, returning to Orono for many reunions.

Mildred’s first teaching position was at Ashland High School. One of her duties was to cook “hot lunch” for the entire school system using a wood cook stove! Since this was during the depression, she was paid with “script,” not with legal tender. She loved living at the boarding house and picking potatoes during the annual school break in September.

In 1939, she secured a teaching position at Pemetic High School in Southwest Harbor and taught there until 1943. She was thrilled to attend this year’s Pemetic High School reunion last June, where she saw many of her former students!

Because she was very patriotic, Mildred enlisted in the Navy Sept. 24, 1943. During her service years, she was stationed at the Naval hospitals in Brooklyn, Plattsburg, Long Island, Bronx, New York City, N.Y. Also, she served in the Naval hospitals in Newport, R.I. and Boston, Mass. She was honorably discharged from USNR as a pharmacist mate first class and assistant instructor in occupational therapy in March 1946. On enlistment, she was denied officer ranks due to her height being under five feet tall. Mildred would later remark, “I don’t know why they had that rule. Women weren’t allowed in combat back then anyway.”

After World War II, Mildred returned to the poultry plant in Monmouth to care for father and brothers, as her mother had died from breast cancer in 1948. She resumed her teaching career at Jordan Junior High School and finally at Lewiston High School. She became head of the home economics department. Mildred also taught certified nurses assistant classes and child care in Lewiston Adult Ed. She obtained her Masters degree in education in 1954 from the University of Maine, taking advantage of the GI bill.

Mildred was a worthy matron of the Monmouth Eastern Star. She was a member and past president of Delta Kappa Gamma Society, an honor society of women teachers until her death. She was a strong union supporter of the Lewiston Teachers’ Association. She was the first woman to be president of that organization. Mildred belonged to the Home Economics Association, the American Vocational Association, and the Maine Teachers’ Association. She was also on the Council for Nurses Aids’ and Child Care Training. She was most proud of her fight to gain women teachers equal pay for chaperoning Lewiston High School dances.

Mildred retired from teaching in 1980 but continued to teach adult education at Lewiston Vocational Technical High School for several years. Her teaching career spanned 44 years.

In retirement, she was an avid golfer and swimmer and loved to travel. She visited Holland, Switzerland, France, the Grand Canyon, Hawaii, and Washington, D.C. She attended the dedication of the “Women in Military service for America Memorial” in Arlington, Va. in 1997 and met Tipper Gore, Olympia Snowe and Mike Michaud. Her most recent trip was to Florida last February.

She loved watching and feeding birds from her kitchen window in Greene. She recently moved back to Orono to Dirigo Pines, Kenduskeag assisted living wing. She enjoyed personal care, fabulous meals, and loved Pauline’s “sitter-size” classes and playing bridge.

She was a lifelong Democrat who loved talking politics and she was ecstatic over President Obama’s reelection! In October, she hosted a “meet & greet” for her favorite senate candidate, Cynthia Dill, at Dirigo Pines.

Annually, Mildred enjoyed attending University of Maine football games with her brothers and nieces, most recently watching the Black Bears in Alfond stadium this October. She was an enthusiastic Red Sox fan and never missed the televised Patriots games. She was looking forward to spring training with the addition of Brian Butterfield to the Red Sox coaching staff.

“Aunt Mildred” was the sweetest, most optimistic and positive lady, who will be missed greatly, but Mildred’s loving spirit and generosity will live on, as she has made an anatomical donation to the University of New England in Biddeford. She was a proud breast cancer survivor, who was a patient of Dr. Andrew Hertler, Chief of the Alfond Cancer Center in Augusta.

Mildred is survived by her brother, Waldo (Waterville); her sister-in-law, Elaine Covell (Orono); her nieces, Teddi-Jann Covell and husband, Don Joseph (Orono), Schari-Fran Roy and husband, Michael (Waterville), Jewel Powers and husband Don (Orono), Sueann Randall (Freeport); her nephews Allan Wilson and wife, Joyce (Suffield,Conn.), Scott Wilson and Sue DeRocher (Bristol, Conn.), Mark Wilson and wife, Sandy (Yarmouth), Rev. Brian Covell and wife, Sharon Cyr (Chicago), Dr. Dan Covell and wife, Pam Safford (Concord, Mass.), Jay Covell and wife, Kim (Glenburn); grandnieces and nephews, Darren Casey-Covell (Orono), Carolyn and Molly Roy (South Boston and Waterville), Sara and Rebecca Randall (Orono and Freeport), Arron and Nicole Wilson and Brett Wilson (Yarmouth), Jennifer Wilson (Boston), Courtney Nixon and Meredith Doty and families (Oregon and Virginia), Courtney and Nate Campbell and family (Orono), Eric Powers, (Florida), Ericka, Nic and Megan Covell (Bradley).

Along with her parents; Mildred was predeceased by her sister, Muriel Wilson and husband, Ralph, sister, Priscilla Onidi and husband, Paul; and sister-in-law, Janet Covell; and brothers, Robert and Henry.

The family gratefully appreciates the staff at EMMC ER, including Dr. Carpenter, Dr. Mehta, and Dr. Fathio; R.N.s Anna and Scott; respiratory techs Pete and Sarah and Grant Five R.N. Gail Gillette. Thanks to all the staff at the Maine Veterans Home (Bangor) for caring for Mildred last spring. Lastly, we thank the management and staff at Dirigo Pines for making Mildred’s last six months fun and relaxing.