Edith Knowles Obituary (1917 - 2006)

WINTHROP - Edith Evelyn Knowles, 89, died Saturday, November 18, 2006 at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston with her family by her side. She was born in Auburn on September 30, 1917, the daughter of Elton F. and Annie G. (Whittaker) Perkins, who were residing on Perkins Ridge in Auburn. With the passing of her father at a very young age and with her older brother, Frankie, lost at sea in an aircraft carrier accident in the 1930's, Edith became one of the elder of the surviving siblings and thus shared much of the responsibility of helping her mother raise their family. She graduated from Edward Little High School and married Kenneth Knowles on May 14, 1938. While the effects of the depression still impressed every family, Ken managed two jobs and Edith struggled to create a home that lasted almost seventy years. Edith liked, among other activities, gardening and reading, with her favorite books in later years written by author, C.A. Stevens, of Norway, Maine. She read and enjoyed all of his 'Old Squire' series. Her weekend habit for years was to cook up a storm for summer gatherings at her camp with friends and family. In the winter months, up until recently, Edith greatly enjoyed snowmobiling. Edith was predeceased by two brothers and two sisters, Frankie Reynolds, James Perkins, Thelma Chadburn and Barbara Prescott. She leaves her daughter, Nancy Sylvester and her husband, Ernest, of Leeds; her son, Robert and his wife, Laureli Lessaro, of Winthrop; her brother, Elton Perkins, Jr. and sister, Eleanor Perkins, both of Florida; grandchildren, Robert Knowles and his wife, Eugenie, Jonathan Knowles and his wife, Jennifer, and Matthew Sylvester; great grandchildren, Carey, Megan, and Spencer Knowles. She is also survived by a brother-in-law, William Prescott, her guardian angel for the past two years, Annette Dugas, and special part time caretaker, Heidi Gallop. There will be no public visiting hours. A celebration of Edith's life will be held graveside at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, November 24, at Valley Cemetery on Route 202 in Greene, with Rev. Clayton Alward officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations in Edith's memory may be made to the Salvation Army, 11 North Pearl St., Augusta, ME 04330. Arrangements are in the care of Roberts Funeral Home, 62 Bowdoin St., Winthrop.