1929 – 2015

AUBURN — Eleanor T. Blais of Auburn, died Saturday, Feb. 14, at the Androscoggin Hospice House.

She was born Nov. 10, 1929, in Rumford, the daughter of Charles and Ilma Fleury. After graduating from Mexico High School, she attended Maine General School of Nursing, where she obtained her R.N. certification. She began her career as an operating room nurse and then a nursing school instructor at Central Maine Medical Center (then Central Maine General Hospital) and eventually became a professional development administrator at St. Mary’s Hospital.

Prior to the decline in her health, she and her husband, Don, enjoyed many winters in Florida, playing golf, an occasional cruise and taking other interesting trips. Throughout her retirement and later years, she continued to involve herself in all types of community, cultural and educational activities. She thoroughly enjoyed and actively nurtured so many friendships that she had acquired as far back as her grade school years and as recently as her last few years at Schooner Estates.

After moving to Schooner Estates in 2009, Ellie continued to demonstrate her lifelong passion for learning by attending many lectures and Senior College courses and self-educating with books and CDs. She also continued to demonstrate her social, conversational and friend-making skills, a characteristic that will be fondly recalled by many.

Ellie was predeceased by her parents and her husband, Donald Blais.

She is survived by her son, Thomas Sawyer and wife, Susan, and their children, Christopher and Emily; and by her daughter, Brenda Sawyer and her husband, Kit Perry. She is also survived by her brother, Emerson Fleury and his wife, Patricia, of Winslow; her nieces, Kathy and Kelly; and nephews, Kevin and Shawn Fleury.

The family would like to offer their heartfelt thanks to the highly skilled staff at the Hospice House for their compassionate care of our mother and kind support to her family.

Condolences may be expressed at www.funeralalternatives.net.