Elaine L. (Olson) Carlson
HALLOWELL – Elaine L. (Olson) Carlson, 90, of Hallowell, formerly of Hingham, Mass., passed away peacefully at her home on Jan. 22, 2022. She was born in Waltham, Mass., on August 3, 1931, the only child of Theodore Alfred Olson and Olga Victoria (Majulin) Olson.
After attending Waltham schools, she graduated from Katharine Gibbs School in Boston. While working in Boston, she met Gilbert Carlson on a blind date and they married in the summer of 1953. They built a house in 1954 in Hingham where they raised their five daughters. Elaine was very involved in the Hingham Congregational Church, where she served on various committees and taught Sunday School. Her love of reading led her to become a volunteer at the Hingham Public Library, which grew into a permanent position for more than 20 years.
Elaine spent all of her summers since 1953 on Garrison Island in Friendship, Maine. In the early years she helped the family harvest blueberries and raspberries and rake sea moss. Relaxing time was spent reading, primarily English history and mysteries. Elaine enjoyed handcrafts, especially sewing, knitting, and quilting, and she taught and passed on that love to all of her daughters. She was dedicated to making clothes for her children when they were young, beautiful hand-stitched quilts for her daughters and grandchildren, and many knitted items for her family and school children in need.
An enthusiastic Anglophile, Elaine and her husband traveled to England several times. Additional travel to Scandinavia allowed them to further explore their shared Swedish heritage. Elaine and Gilbert moved to Granite Hill Estates in Hallowell in 2006 to be closer to their children. Both of them enjoyed being part of the community.
Elaine was predeceased by her husband, Gilbert, in 2009. She is survived by her daughters, Jane Carlson of Friendship, Holly Cumler and her husband Bob of Warren, Betsy Raymond and her husband Charlie of Bethel, Laurie Taylor and her husband Keith of Hallowell, and Julie Carlson of Brockton, Mass.; grandchildren Caroline Geehan and her husband Jonathan, Andrew Raymond, Julia Taylor and Gilbert Taylor; and great-grandsons Alden Geehan and Ellis Geehan.
Many thanks to Androscoggin Home Healthcare and Hospice for their expertise and kindness in Elaine’s last days.
A private memorial service will be held at a later date.
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