Elizabeth Jane (Spring) Andexler, 53, of Andover, passed away on May 19, in Lewiston, after losing her battle with lung cancer.

She was born in Hartford, Conn. on Jan. 12, 1958, the daughter of Joseph N. and Elizabeth (Griggs) Spring Sr. She graduated from Concord Carlisle High School in 1976. She was a proud, loving, stay-at-home mom to her three children, and an excellent wife to her husband. She also cared for her parents at their home in Scarborough during their declining years, visiting her dad daily to feed him lunch during his stay at the veterans’ home.

She attended the Apostlic Church of Rumford and was baptized in Jesus’ Name in July 1996 in the Swift River, by her pastor, David Willhoite.

She lovingly spent hours crafting bird houses, as well as painting pictures of animals, birds, and flowers on flower pots, which she gave away as treasured gifts. She enjoyed spending the summer months by her pool with her Ya-Ya friends, Helen, Terry, Bibbi, Sandy, Michelle, Brenda, and Opie (her puppy dog). She enjoyed spending her summer evenings at the coast listening to the beach surf from the wrap-around porch of her parent’s retirement home on Prouts Neck with Cathy and Mike. She delighted in winning a good game of backgammon against her good friend, Greek, and playing cards with her childhood friend, Steve.

She loved opening her home and hosting friends from far and wide, like Bob from Concord, Mass., Missy from Scarborough, Marla from Bedford, Mass., and Amy from Manchester, N.H. She treasured the time she spent with her dad at the Sudbury Inn, owned by her lifelong friend, Scott.

Survivors include her husband of 29 years, Paul Andexler, of Andover; her children, Thomas E. Andexler, of Andover, Steven B. Andexler, of Andover, who is currently working in Afghanistan, and Michelle E. Pulk (Andexler), of Carthage; siblings, Joseph Spring, Jr., of Boxboro, Mass., Margie Ray, of Ashby, Mass., Wilbur Spring, of Kensington, Conn., and John Spring, of Buxton.

We are forever indebted and thankful to the staff of the Lewiston CMMC, especially the ICU staff for taking very special care of Betty during her two-and-a-half-month stay. One of the highlights of her stay was allowing her daughter and fiance to wed in her hospital room. We arrived as strangers and left as part of a family.

Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.ripostafh.com.