CALAIS and PORTLAND – Eleanor “Ellie” (Haley) Tibbetts, 75, died peacefully Tuesday, April 26, 2011, surrounded by her family, in Portland, after a long illness. She was born Jan. 27, 1936, in Islington, Mass., daughter of the late Everett and Mary Haley.
Ellie graduated from Westwood High School in 1953 and subsequently graduated from Chandler School of Business and Washington County Technical College where she was employed for many years until her retirement. She married the late Robert E. Tibbetts, Esq., in 1958, and they lived together in Long Beach, Calif., and Foxboro, Mass., before relocating to Calais in 1969. Ellie was employed by Foxboro Co. until relocating to Calais, where she chose to stay home and devote herself to raising her three children. In the 1980s, she returned to school to freshen her skills and upon graduation became employed by what was then Washington County Vocational Technical Institute. She retired in 1998 as administrative assistant to the president. Ellie was fortunate to enjoy many trips to domestic and international locations with her late husband; she especially enjoyed warmer climates and looked forward to their Florida vacations each year. In later years, she developed an active interest in gardening and looked forward to planting begonias in her window boxes every spring. She also enjoyed volunteering at Calais Regional Hospital Coffee Shop and in the Calais school system. She was an active member of First Congregational Church of Calais, St. Croix International Garden Club and Calais Benevolent Society.
Ellie is survived by three children, Michelle Z. Tibbetts of Bath, Lisa M. Tibbetts of Portland and Michael R. Tibbetts of Portland. She also is survived by one grandson, three brothers, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. The entire Tibbetts family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to the doctors, nurses and staff at Maine Center for Cancer Medicine, Scarborough; and to Eleanor’s many neighbors, special friends and relatives who did so much to aid her in battling her illness. Your kindness, compassion and generosity of spirit mean more than words can adequately express.
At Eleanor’s request there will be no public memorial service. A burial and private graveside service will be held at Hallowell Calvary Cemetery, Hallowell. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to American Cancer Society, 1 Bowdoin Mill Island, Topsham, ME 04086-1240, www.cancer.org; First Congregational Church of Calais, 21 Calais Ave., Calais, ME 04619 or Calais Benevolent Society, care of 37 Spruce St., Calais, ME 04619. Arrangements are under the guidance of Independent Death Care, 660 Brighton Ave., Portland. To offer words of condolence to the family, sign a guest book and share memories, go to the obituary page at
www.independentdeathcare.com.