Elaine Marion (Bigelow) Folsom, 80, of Readfield, Maine, died peacefully with her children by her side on March 18.  She was the loving wife of the late Robert (Bob) Folsom. She was born in Branford on December 18, 1932, daughter of the late Mellen E. and Marjorie S. Bigelow. Elaine attended local schools and graduated from Branford High School in 1954, where she excelled as a majorette.  She went on to Dean College in Franklin, Massachusetts, to study medical transcription. There, she met the love of her life, Robert (Bob) Folsom.  Elaine graduated from Dean College in 1957 with an associate’s degree in medical secretarial sciences and was awarded a Trustee Prize for high scholarship, loyalty, and outstanding contributions to the life of the college.

Elaine and Bob were married on August 31, 1957.  The couple made their home in Franklin, Maine, before moving to Portland, Maine in 1968 to raise their family.

Elaine was a loving and dedicated stay-at-home mother to her five children. During the summer months, from 1959 to 1975, Elaine also ran the office and served as nurse for Folsom Brothers Day Camp on Maranacook Lake in Readfield, Maine. An active member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Portland, Maine for many years, Elaine served as a member of the choir and devoted her energy to numerous suppers, breakfasts, and fairs for the church.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Elaine was a medical transcriptionist for Maine Cardiology in Portland, Maine. In 1989, Elaine and Bob retired and sold their home in Portland. Together they built a beautiful home beside Maranacook Lake in Readfield, Maine, where they enjoyed many years together.

With her vibrant energy and many talents, Elaine continued to be very active.  From her kitchen, she soon started Elaine’s Homebaked Goods, and baked pies and cakes for local businesses and for weddings and birthdays.  She enjoyed sewing, making jam and maple syrup, apple picking, and singing with the group, “The Notables.”

Elaine became a member of St. Andrew’s Church in Readfield, Maine, where she sang in the choir, served in the Women’s Guild, the Altar Guild, and helped with fairs and meals, sometimes baking up to 40 pies at a time.  This past summer, she was honored with a dedication plaque for her service as an altar guild member. Elaine will be uniquely remembered, however, for her creation of the St. Andrew’s Church Mice.  Her original designs of tiny fanciful mice, which she created in fabric with exquisite detail, were loved by all ages, and it became a tradition to purchase a mouse each year at the church fair to give as a gift to hang on the Christmas tree.

Most of all, Elaine will be remembered for her great love for her husband Bob, her children and grandchildren, and for extending that love to many more family members and friends.

She is survived by her children, Nancy E. Folsom of Westbrook, Maine, Cynthia J. Folsom of Topsham, Maine, Daniel R. Folsom and his wife Jessica of Winthrop, Maine, Debora F. Harvey and her husband Rick of Readfield, Maine; and Joseph W. Folsom and his wife Theresa of Raymond, Maine; her brother, Melvin D. Bigelow of Georgia; and 10 grandchildren, Jaime, Samantha, Eleanor, Isabel, Gracelyn, Emily, Richard, Robert, Benjamin, and Heena. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of her life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 22, at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 219 Winthrop Center Rd., Winthrop, Maine.  Burial will take place in Mount Hope Cemetery, Augusta, Maine, later in the spring. Contributions in her memory may be made to St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, c/o Rev. James L. Gill, P.O. Box 66, Winthrop, ME 04364.   Roberts Funeral Home, Winthrop, Maine, is in charge of arrangements. Condolences, memories, photos, and videos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the website at www.khrfuneralhomes.com.