SALISBURY COVE – Sylvia Elaine McFarland died March 15, 2011, at a Bar Harbor health care facility. She was born March 6, 1927, the daughter of Howard “Packie” and Josephine McFarland.
Elaine spent her whole life in Salisbury Cove, where she attended grammar school and Eden Baptist Church. She graduated from Bar Harbor High School. Elaine worked for 35 years as a telephone operator for New England Telephone and Telegraph or “Ma Belle” as she put it. She retired from New England Telephone and Telegraph in 1978, when the operation was moved to Bangor. After that she enjoyed her free time and worked many part-time jobs locally. Elaine was a true “Mainer,” she loved clamming, blueberry picking, gathering firewood using her own chainsaw and feeding the ducks in Salsbury Cove. She loved her social time at Salsbury Cove Post Office – always having a story to share. She enjoyed long walks and keeping up with the activities at Mount Desert Island Biological Lab. Elaine was truly interested in the lives of all the people she knew. She never forgot a birthday, right to the very end! Everyone knew where to find Elaine on a hot summer day. She was in heaven at Hadley Point lying on a blanket soaking in the sun with her friends. She referred to herself as the “chairman of the board.” There were specific rules for sun worshipping. You lay on a blanket, it was not proper to bring a chair and the hours were 11-3. Local and summer visitors always looked forward to seeing her in her spot at Hadley Point.
She was predeceased by her parents; her brother, John; her best friends, Alberta and Alvah Strout; and her sun worshipping buddies, Barbara Silk and Marie Wedge. She will be sadly missed by all her friends.
At Elaine’s request, there will be no funeral services. A private graveside service will be held in the spring. Donations may be made to Eden Baptist Church, care of Mary Rush, 1044 State Highway No. 3, Bar Harbor, ME 04609 or Mount Desert Island Hospital, P.O. Box 8, Bar Harbor, ME 04609. Arrangements by Jordan-Fernald, 48 Eden St., Bar Harbor. Condolences may be expressed at
www.jordanfernald.com.