STANDISH – Mary Ellen Walker Sanborn passed away Dec. 18, 2013, surrounded by her family after a long battle with cancer. She was born Dec. 20, 1946, in Portland.
She grew up in Clarks Mills, went to the Hollis Elementary School, graduated from Bonny Eagle High School in 1964, and in 1968, graduated from Gorham State College with a Bachelor of Science in education. She and her husband of 43 years, Leonard Sanborn Jr., married in 1970, raised three children and five grandchildren. After graduating from Gorham State, Mary taught early elementary school in Portland for five years before teaching in the Windham school district for the next 32 years. After retiring in 2008, she continued to influence future educators by teaching education classes and supervising student teachers at the University of Southern Maine.
Mary enjoyed gardening, reading, doing crossword puzzles and spending time at “camp” on Little Ossipee Lake in East Waterboro with her twin sister Marcia planning the next family gathering. Above all, she enjoyed being with her friends and family, particularly her grandchildren by whom she was affectionately called “Mimi.”
She is predeceased by her parents, Warren and Marjorie Walker. She is survived by her husband, Leonard R. Sanborn Jr.; her three children, Sarah Sanborn Das and husband, Akshay, of Darien, Conn., Douglas Sanborn and wife, Erin, of Arundel, and Kyle Sanborn of St. Louis, Mo.; and her five grandchildren, Delaney, Carter, Graham, Annika and Eva. She is also survived by her four siblings; sister, Marcia Steenstra of Rockland; and brothers, William Walker and wife, Carole, of Auburn, John Walker and wife, Lee, of Kennebunk, and Charles Walker and wife, Donna, of Baldwinsville, N.Y.
Visiting hours will be held 5-7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22, at Dolby Funeral Chapel, 434 River Road, South Windham. A funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 23, at North Windham Union Church, 723 Roosevelt Trail, Windham. A reception will immediately follow in the parish hall. A private burial will be at Smith Cemetery, Windham. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Windham Primary School Library, 404 Gray Road, Windham, ME 04062; or to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund at www.ocrf.org. For online condolences, please visit www.dolbyfuneralchapels.com.
Mary Ellen Walker Sanborn
