AUBURN — Eleanor “El” Smart Parker, 96, of North Bridgton and Auburn, died peacefully on Tuesday, June 25, at Schooner Estates.

The daughter of Ella Hansen and Harold Kincaid Smart, Eleanor Flores Smart was born in Portland on March 6, 1917. She attended Portland schools, graduated from Bates College in 1939 and received her master’s degree from the University of Maine.

Eleanor met her future husband, Chester “Chet” R. Parker when they were both freshmen at Bates. They were married in 1941 and would spend the next 38 years working together in education, moving often as he changed position from teacher to principal to superintendent. Between 1939 and retirement in 1977 she taught, coached and substitute taught in schools throughout Maine, Vermont, and Massachusetts.

Eleanor was well-known for her hospitality, her love of swimming, reading, games, knitting, art and gardening. She had an inquisitive mind, a competitive spirit, a ready smile and a love of good company.

She and Chet traveled extensively throughout North America and Europe, making lifelong friendships with people from all over the world.

Upon retirement, they returned to North Bridgton, where El was a member of AAUW and a 40-year member of Delta Kappa Gama (the honorary society of women educators) — serving as state secretary for each. She was active in the Women’s Fellowship of the United Congo Church in North Bridgton, a founding member of the Bridgton Garden Club, a member of Beta Sigma Phi and enjoyed participating in “Red Hats.” El served as secretary of her college class and enjoyed planning reunions. She and Chet also delivered “Meals-on-wheels” for a number of years, often including little home-made treats and cards for special occasions.

In 2008, El and Chet moved to Schooner estates, where she enjoyed exercise classes, painting, trips, the book club, completing puzzles and the many friends that visited. She continued to keep in touch with family and friends through “snail mail,” e-mail and her annual Christmas letter.

She is survived by her daughter, Lynn Schiavi and her husband, John, of Hales Location, N.H., and Naples, Fla.; son, C. Randolph Parker of North Bridgton; two granddaughters, Deborah Schiavi Cote and husband, Paul, of Auburn and Katherine Schiavi Melioris and husband, Todd, of Johns Creek, Ga.; five great-grandchildren, Nicholas and Michael Cote and Evan, Ella Pearl and Bryson Melioris; and sister-in-law, Marion Gibbs of Laconia, N.H. Her extended “family” included Bill and Lee Bearse, John and Nancy Hayes and their children.

She was predeceased by her husband of 69 years, Chester; and her sister, Dorothea Smart.

The family would especially like to thank caregivers, Nicole Sylvester and Sandy Petruska as well as her Androscoggin Hospice team led by Caryn Bourgoin and Schooner Estates for the wonderful care that both El and Chet received while living at Schooner.