ETNA – Eleanor (Jacobsen) Whidden, 73, wife of Robert E. Whidden, passed away peacefully Jan. 7, 2006, at a Bangor hospital. She was born Jan. 14, 1932, in Bangor, the daughter of Louis and Doris (Cunningham) Jacobsen. Eleanor grew up in Hampden and later she and Robert raised their own family there. She was a member of the Hampden Congregational Church. Eleanor was proud to have been a stay-at-home mother and was also a caregiver to many of her family members over the years. Eleanor was always a take charge kind of person who loved to socialize. She had a quick wit and a great sense of humor that she passed on to her family. Eleanor managed the Park Rest Motel in Hampden for many years and for about 10 years in the 1980’s, worked at A & A Pizza in Hampden, a job she very much enjoyed and was known by many of the area citizens for her friendly way. She was a kind and gentle person who loved animals, especially cats. Eleanor will be remembered as a loving and devoted, wife, mother, sister, grandmother and friend. Eleanor is survived by her beloved husband of 55 years, Robert of Etna; two sons, Michael E. Whidden of Dallas, Texas, James R. Whidden and his wife, Andrea, of Palm Harbor, Fla.; two daughters, Judith W. Stover and her husband, Robert, of Belfast, Kathryn A. Whidden and her husband, Charles Cathcart, of Plano, Texas; two brothers, Donald Jacobsen of Boston, Mass., and Robert Jacobsen of Bangor; a sister, Evelyn Clark of Bangor; five grandchildren, Jessica Pearson, Chelsea Whidden, Courtney Whidden, Katelyn Whidden and Zachary Cathcart; and many nieces and nephews and her beloved cat, Sophie. She was predeceased by her parents; two sisters, Mary Irwin and Lynette Davis and by three brothers, Richard, Norman and Edward Jacobsen. A funeral service will be held 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Hampden-Gilpatrick Funeral Home, 45 Western Ave., Hampden, with the Rev. Dr. Deborah M. Jenks, pastor of the Hampden Congregational Church, officiating. Family and friends may call at the funeral home, noon until time of service at 1 p.m. Wednesday. Interment in the springtime will be in Lakeview Cemetery, Hampden. In keeping with Eleanor’s love of animals, those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the Bangor Humane Society, 693B Mt. Hope Ave., Bangor, ME 04401. Messages of condolence or memories may be shared through www.hampdengilpatrick.com.
ELEANOR WHIDDEN
