AUGUSTA – A. Delaine Nye, 76, died Nov. 25, 2022 following a lengthy battle with ovarian cancer. Delaine was born on June 9, 1946 in Monroe, to Ralph and Helen (Kight) Elwell.

She graduated from Morse Memorial High in Brooks and obtained her RN certificate from Central Maine General Hospital School of Nursing in Lewiston. She enjoyed a 20-year nursing career, including a decade as a Nursing Manager at Kennebec Valley Medical Center. She then retired from nursing and earned her real estate broker license and had a second 20-year career in real estate sales. She co-owned Home Buyer Agency/Rent Search for three years prior to joining Sprague and Curtis Real Estate. She retired in 2008. Often asked which career she liked the best, Delaine replied, “I loved both!”

Delaine was predeceased by her parents; her younger brother Arthur; and her granddaughter Julia Bourque.

Survivors include daughter Melissa Prew and fiancé Roger Madore, and granddaughters Lauren and Olivia Bourque, all of Vassalboro, and son David Prew, his wife Margie, and grandchildren Nicolas, Kaitlyn, and Makenna, all of Buda, Texas; siblings, Ralph Elwell of Monroe, Adrian Elwell and his husband Jens Schlueter, of San Francisco, Calif., Alyce Wherren, of Gloucester, Mass. Other survivors include special friend Brian Maddocks of Hamden; nieces and nephews; as well as many close friends and some really awesome neighbors. Former patients, real estate clients, and co-workers were always remembered with fondness, as well.

Delaine loved the City of Augusta and was very active in her community. She was a long-standing member and past president Augusta Kiwanis Club, past member of Kennebec Valley Board Of Realtors, past member and president of Capital area Housing Association, elected to the Augusta City Council, and served the Executive Committee and Governing Committee of the Capital Area Riverfront Improvement District, the State Planning Commission, the Mayor’s REX Committee, the Historic Preservation/Demolition Delay Committee, the Green Street Methodist Church, and a member of Augusta First. She served on the Augusta Planning Board for many years until a month prior to her death.

Delaine also loved gardening (ornamental and vegetable), her backyard chickens, knitting, refinishing furniture, light carpentry, cooking (particularly making bread in her old-fashioned bread pail!), and most any domestic, useful chores. She was amazing.

Delaine did not want a traditional funeral, because in her words, “Funerals are for the living, not the dead; do whatever you wish to send me off. Flaunt convention, or follow it; after all, I wasn’t entirely conventional in my thinking and the way I lived my life.” She ultimately wanted us to have a party, a Celebration of Life. In this spirit, all are welcome to join us in celebrating Delaine Jan. 2, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at the Governor Hill Mansion, immediately followed by a private gathering for her family.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Plummer Funeral Home, 16 Pleasant St., Augusta, ME.

Condolences, stories and photos may be shared at http://www.plummerfh.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the food pantry of your choice: Friends of Lithgow Library, Viles Arboretum, or Capital Area Newcomers Project

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