AUBURN – Anita Caron Taylor, 91, of Auburn, Maine died on November 17, 2024 at Andwell Hospice House after a brief illness.
Born on May 7, 1933 in Millinocket, Maine she was the daughter of Cora Paradis Caron and Joseph Caron. She grew up in North Whitefield, the oldest of five siblings and graduated from Cony High School in 1950. Anita went on to study nursing at Central Maine General Hospital (now CMMC) and got her degree in 1953. While there, she met her future husband, Edward N. Taylor of Auburn on a blind date. They married and began their life together on November 28, 1953.
Anita devoted her entire career to the field of nursing and was highly regarded both as a healthcare professional and as a mentor to many students in the field. She started her career at CMG as a staff nurse. Later she became head nurse at St. Mary’s General Hospital in Lewiston where she was instrumental in the Emergency Medical Training program that helped launch Emergency Medical Services in the Lewiston/Auburn area.
In the 1980’s, she became a pioneer of occupational health and was the first board certified occupational health nurse in the state of Maine. Her mission in this field was to guide and elevate companies about the importance of employee safety. In this capacity, she worked with several companies in central and southern Maine including; Etonic Shoe, Barber Foods, Fairchild Semiconductor and G.H. Bass Shoe Company. While at G.H. Bass, she initiated one of the first smoking cessation programs under the Great American Smoke-Out, setting up her table across from the company smoking lounge. Anita continued to work in occupational healthcare until she retired at the age of 78 to spend more time with her family.
She was a member of the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses and the Maine Association of Occupational Health Nurses. She was also certified as a life support instruction, an American Red Cross first aid instructor and an Occupational Hearing Conservation Technician.
She was an active member of the CMGH-CMMC Alumni Association, School of Nursing where she was newsletter editor.
In 2018 Ed was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and Anita’s primary focus became caring for him with the support of her five children, nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
She is survived by her children: Karen Taylor, Lewiston, ME; Ronald Taylor (Cynthia Guptill Taylor) Auburn, ME, Kevin Taylor, Greene, ME, Jeffrey Taylor (Nicole Taylor) Readfield, ME and Colleen Taylor, Auburn, ME. Also grandchildren Jessica Taylor, Jeremy and Justin Taylor, Brian, Scott and Matthew Taylor, Ben Capano, Grace and Elijah Taylor and great-grandchildren: Jayce & Jacobi Kuvaja, Maddox and Austin Taylor, Denver and Colton Taylor, Silas Taylor, Cole Taylor, and Logan Taylor.
Her sister Rowena Parent (Phil) of Dunnellon, FL, brother David Caron (Maggie) New Harbor, ME and sister Nadia Caron-Davis (Jim) of Homosossa, FL. In addition, she is survived by her sister in-law Joyce (Taylor) King and her nephew Dennis King of Greene.

Her husband Edward, October 2021 and sister Patricia Kelly, May 2020, predeceased her.
Services will be held graveside at Gracelawn Memorial Park, 980 Turner Street, Auburn, ME Wednesday, May 7, 2025 at 1:00 pm.
Donations may be made to Alzheimer’s Disease Research, 22512 Gateway Center Drive, Clarksburg, MD 20871 and Andwell Hospice House 236 Stetson Road, Auburn, ME 04210.
Thank you to the staff of Schooner Estates Memory Care and to Andwell Hospice House.