Celebrating a Life:
Elaine Pearson Dahl
(1947-2010)
On Kilmanjaro 1989 - Our favorite picture of Elaine.
Note: This is a graphic-driven work-in-progress, assembled by family and friends, as we look back at Elaine’s life with each of us and prepare for a memorial service in early summer 2010. If you have photos of you and Elaine (and a brief story/caption) that you would like to share, please do so.
Africa 1989 - Hanging out with young Masai warriors.
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Australia 2003 - Making fire the Penobscot Indian way.
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Elaine passed away quietly at the Oakwood Annapolis Hospital near the Detroit Airport, where she had stopped en route back to Maine from Florida. Having mastered walking on her leg prosthesis, she was coming home to start anew: to work with Rev. Bob Carlson and the folk at AA. However, this fresh start was not to be. Her death was the end of a courageous struggle with MRSA (methicilin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) that had taken her right lower leg in 2009 and then her life.
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Husson University Trustee at graduation with relatives, Dot Thompson and Bob Dyer.
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Birthday girls Julie Green, Elaine and U.S. Senator Susan Collins
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During the seven days prior to her death, I (Bernie) was able to be with her in the hospital, to tell her how much I/we loved her and how proud I/we were of her and the life she had lived. We reminisced about our great life together, about family, friends, travels, and just quiet times together. Above all, we laughed. As she slipped into a semi-comatose state, I continued to talk to her about specific people and joys in our life, to hug her, to kiss her, to hold her hand as she slowly went into a coma, stopped breathing, and died.
It's shopping time for Elaine
supporting the local economy
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Elaine in her kitchen planning for
a family celebration
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What a dreadful, yet wonderful opportunity, a sublime experience for me. Elaine and I experienced an important degree of closure, but just the beginning of long process of closure for me, family and friends.
Elaine dancing at the Taj Mahal.
Elaine, Her World, Her Friends:
Elaine was “many things to many people,” in Maine and as we traveled the world meeting, sharing and bonding with people of all levels of society. She shared equally with all, her humor, her laughter, her wit, her love, and her joy with life. (Click here for more Family photos) , (Click here for more Friends photos)
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In the kitchen with Andrea and Mark Illingworth
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Elaine with MaryJo Hanson
(left) and Bobby Travis |
Herodotus and The Celebrated Life:
Elaine enjoyed life fully. She reveled in her freedom, as the ultimate free spirit. The Greek philosophers would have been proud of her, for she experienced eudemonia, (literally good demons) not just happiness and success in life, but she flourished. Herodotus (ca 484 BCE ) noted that in judging the worthiness of one’s life, can come only after they have died and their life is reflected on by others.
Did that specific person live a life of commitment, devotion, integrity, and decency in the world into which they were born?
"Jacques" and Nancy Dwyer
fellow international travelers
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On-board with Andrea Illingworth
and Win Rome |
Some Comments, Quotations about Elaine:
We have received hundreds of cards, e-mails, and telephone calls of condolences, many with reflections of Elaine’s life. Here are a few select ones. Do send in yours.
I remember Elaine as an elegant, warm, and effusive woman who had
great skill making people feel at ease.
We truly loved her like family and have so many special memories of her.
She was always so giving and caring.
I can still hear her laughter and the genuine concern in her voice of
concern for others.
Elaine and I always had great chats- usually at the grocery store.
She was irreverent and fun and brave in facing her challenges.
I am so glad I knew her.
I miss Elaine. She could always make me laugh.
Elaine always greeted everyone with a smile.
Elaine touched countless lives in her position at EMMC, providing
information and support to families of patients in surgery, with utmost compassion.
She made the best carrot cake in the world.
I will miss Elaine for she was a dear and trusted friend.
Elaine was a wonderful, beautiful, and brave woman.
If there is a Heaven she will be there, and her Spirit will be with you,
watching over you, as she has for so many years.
Her compassion as a contributor and donor ranged from small gifts
to the needy to major gifts for society in the USA and well beyond.
I loved that Elaine was there to help when others who were going through
their own trials and struggles in life. She never abandoned friends in need.
Elaine was the most life-loving person I have ever known. She did and
dared to do anything she came up with and more.
Even though I only came to know her when she was struggling, I was
struck by her intelligence and charm than by her troubles. I admired her
efforts and success in recovery.
I would meet her shopping and we would stop and talk and laugh and
talk and laugh some more. She was an exceptional lady.
Each time I saw Elaine my spirits were uplifted by her effervescent
personality. The world is less bright with her passing.
I will always remember how she cheered everyone serving at EMMC’s Chaplaincy
Office over the years that I practiced there.
I retain memories of a beautiful and vibrant and caring woman who
was the life and soul of many gatherings. May God be good to her.
Elaine was full of life, colour, and fun. We will always remember her
that way (along with all her great recipes!).
As part of my remembrance of Elaine, I cooked a meal of favorite recipes
that Elaine had imparted to me over the years: Asian pork tenderloin, popovers,
and lemon “poof” for desert.
Together you were a vibrant fun-filled team.
She was a very special lady who showed boundless love for family, friends,
and even strangers.
She integrated into our family by being not afraid of language difficulties.
What a joy it was when she shared her jewelry box with our kids, and help them apply make-up.
She was a good friend and fun to be around. Her enthusiasm for life was unbelievable.
For many years she opened her home and extended hospitality and
friendship to us all.
We will never forget that infectious smile.
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Elaine as Viewed by Bernie:
Elaine was the best thing that ever happened to me. She was everything to me: wife, lover, and best friend for over 30 years! Wow! What a joy, what a privilege, what excitement as we walked together, ran together through the joys and struggles of life, of family, friends, travels, illnesses, mountaineering, medical practice, real estate, civic activities, authoring books, sharing our wisdom and foolishness, and much more. Above all, she held my hand as we went together into that trackless land of love. (Click here for more photos of Elaine and Bernie)
Elaine and Bernie's first trip
Billy Carter's Gas Station
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Elaine and Bernie's last trip
Mayan Adventure (OAT) 2009
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Elaine, The Witch:
Elaine was a witch, the innocent kind. As a descendant of Susannah Martin, hung at the Salem Witch Trials on July 19, 1693, she passed those genes on to her daughter, Heather,who, in turn, passed them on to her daughters, Elizabeth and Gabrielle. The same genes went to Elaine’s son Bob, who passed them on to his daughter, Allison. Of special interest, is Bob’s daughter, Colleen, by his second wife, Emily. She got additional witch genes from Emily’s mother Ellen Campbell, a decendent of Mary Sanford a convicted witch in Hartford, CT, 1962, so Colleen is a “double witch”.
Witches of Maine - All decedents of Susannah Marten hung in Salem, Mass.
Colleen (2nd from left) is a "Double Witch."
Do not mess with Colleen. You’ve been warned!
The first movie that I can recall was at a community center near our summer home in the Ramapo Mountains of New Jersey. It was “I Married a Witch”, a 1942 fantasy romantic comedy starring Veronica Lake and based on the novel by Thorne Smith, The Passionate Witch
Years later I found and married my “passionate witch”, Elaine. Lucky me!
On a more positive note, Elaine’s family geneologists noted her qualifications to join The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). She didn’t, but she enjoyed a circuitous genetic relationship with Alexander Graham Bell and General Robert E. Lee.
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