WEST PARIS — In the evening of Friday, March 24, our mother, grandmother and friend was reunited with the love of her life.

Olive Mae Danforth was born Jan. 27, 1931, to David and Ethel Winchester Taylor. The passing of her mom, when Olive was 8, caused her to develop a close bond with her dad. Olive was raised in Mechanic Falls and attended schools there, graduating in 1949.

She proudly worked for Cole’s Restaurant during her high school years. After World War II, she met her soul mate, Wilfred Danforth Sr. They were united in marriage on Nov. 19, 1949. Olive and Wilfred were blessed with 52 years of love and family, until his passing in 2001. They welcomed four children into their family while living in Oxford.

In 1965, they moved the family to West Paris where the door was always open to welcome family and friends. In 1998, they would purchase their retirement home in Woodstock.

After Wilfred’s passing, Olive moved in 2002 to Oxford Meadows where she had many wonderful adventures. With her health starting to fail, she moved in with her son and daughter-in-law, Bruce and Donna Danforth. The last four years, she called Ledgeview Nursing Home her home.

Olive was always caring for others. She was a nurse’s aide/med tech at Chapel Valley and Ledgeview. She cared for her grandchildren and some of the children in the neighborhood when her health no longer allowed her to work.

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She was a member of the Willing Workers, Tri-Town Rescue Auxiliary and Mechanic Falls Legion Auxiliary.

Olive loved traveling, trips to the ocean, family get-togethers, and shopping with “her girls.” Wilfred and Olive lovingly spent many summers camping with their ever-growing family. Many evenings, you could find them relaxing in their living room making things for their family, Wilfred with his knitting and Olive with her embroidery. They made quilts for every grandchild, dolls, pillow cases and mittens.

Olive leaves behind her children and their spouses, Wilfred and Dolores Danforth Jr. of Auburn, Holly and Bill Herrick of Norway, Bruce and Donna Danforth of Bryant Pond, David and Gail Danforth of Oxford; her grandchildren, Jamie Danforth of Waterville, Tammy Smith of Hebron, Maria and Kevin Berriault Sr. of South Paris, Kristen and Pernell Hammond of Hanover, Pa., Carrie Danforth and Jason Stepchuk of Michigan, Megan Danforth and Steve Vozzella of South Paris, Bethany Danforth and Doug Swan of Bethel; 14 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her parents; her husband; grandson, Matthew Danforth and his infant daughter, Atalie Danforth; and granddaughter, Amanda Herrick.

Condolences can be expressed to the family at www.chandlerfunerals.com.

Olive M. Danforth


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