READFIELD - Elaine Marion (Bigelow) Folsom, age 80, passed away peacefully with her children by her side on March 18, 2013. Born on December 18, 1932 in Branford, Connecticut, a daughter of Mellen E. and Marjorie S. Bigelow, Elaine attended local schools and graduated from Branford High School in 1954, where she excelled as a majorette. Elaine went on to Dean College in Franklin, Mass. to study medical transcription. There she met the love of her life, Robert (Bob) Folsom. Elaine graduated from Dean College in 1957 with an Associates Degree in Medical Secretarial Sciences. From Dean she was also 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 before moving to Portland 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 Bros. Day Camp on Maranacook Lake in Readfield. An active member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Portland 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 1980’s and 1990’s, Elaine was a medical transcriptionist for Maine Cardiology in Portland. In 1989, Elaine and Bob retired and sold their home in Portland. Together they built a beautiful home beside Maranacook Lake in Readfield 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, where she sang in the choir, served in the Women’s Guild, the Alter Guild, and helped with fairs and meals, sometimes baking up to 40 pies at a time. This past summer, she was honored for her service as an alter guild member with a dedication plaque. It is for the creation of the St. Andrew’s Church Mice, however, that Elaine will be uniquely remembered. 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 of her husband Bob, her children and grandchildren, and for extending that love to many more family members and friends. Elaine was predeceased by her husband. She is survived by her children, Nancy E. Folsom of Westbrook; Cynthia J. Folsom of Topsham; Daniel R. Folsom and his wife Jessica of Winthrop; Debora F. Harvey and her husband Rick of Readfield; and Joseph W. Folsom and his wife Theresa of Raymond; her brother Melvin D. Bigelow of Georgia; ten grandchildren, Jaime, Samantha, Eleanor, Isabel, Gracelyn, Emily, Richard, Robert, Benjamin, and Heena; and many nieces and nephews. A celebration of Elaine’s life will be held at 11 am Saturday, March 23 at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 219 Winthrop Center Road, Winthrop. Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery, Augusta, later in the spring. Contributions in Elaine’s memory may be made to St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, c/o Rev. James L. Gill, P.O. Box 66, Winthrop ME 04364. Arrangements are in the care of Roberts Funeral Home, 62 Bowdoin St., Winthrop, where condolences, memories, photos and videos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the website at www.khrfuneralhomes.com