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it was important to Elaine to stay home and raise her children.

Strong – Elaine Patia Reed Allen, age 83, passed away at home on November 1, 2026, with loving family by her side. Born in Farmington, Maine on November 10, 1942, she was the daughter of Albert W. Reed and Rowena E. (Huff) Reed. Elaine grew up in Strong and attended the local schools. On a late summer day, August 29, 1959, she married the love of her life, Lendell L. Allen, and together they spent the next 67 years building their family, their life and their legacy of love.

After finishing high school in 1961, it was important to Elaine to stay home and raise her children. When the children were older, she went on to further her education and completed her bachelor’s degree in nursing, graduating from the Maine School of Nursing, the same weekend in fact that her two youngest sons also graduated from college.  She was faithful to her career as a nurse, working for Strong Children’s Home, SAD #58, Androscoggin Home Health, Franklin Memorial Hospital, Orchard Park Nursing Home and Edgewood Nursing Home. She not only cared for those in her community but also participated in various community organizations. She was a member of the Strong Methodist Church, where she and Lendell were married. She was an active member of the Order of the Eastern Star and the Maine Chapter of American Mothers, Inc. and won the Maine Mother of the Year Award in 2010.

She and Lendell raised a big family which she enjoyed to the fullest. She was very crafty, enjoying tole painting and basket weaving, sewing and knitting. She could often be found in her kitchen cooking, baking and cake decorating. She loved singing and acting along with playing cards.

Elaine leaves behind her loving husband, Lendell Allen; her daughters, Karen (Robert) Thorndike of Phillips, ME and Sharen (Steven) Holbrook of New Vineyard, ME; her sons, Jeffrey (Lucinda) Allen of New Vineyard, ME, Lendell (Kyra) Allen of Andover, ME, Darren (Angel) Allen of Avon, ME and Matthew (Deanna) Allen of Canastota, NY; her brothers, Delbert (Nan) Reed and Gilbert (Joan) Reed; sixteen grandchildren and twenty five great-grandchildren. Elaine is predeceased by her parents, Albert and Rowena (Huff) Reed; two grandsons, Nathan Allen and Tucker Holbrook; and two great granddaughters, Brylee Hutchinson and Ruthie Thorndike.

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She loved singing and acting along with playing cards.

Services in Elaine’s honor will be held Thursday, November 5, 2026, starting at 1:00 p.m. at the Strong United Methodist Church, 8 Church Hill Road, Strong, ME, with a burial at the Strong Village Cemetery. Following the burial, refreshments will be served back at the church for all to attend. For those who are unable to attend Elaine’s funeral service, the Strong United Methodist Church will be livestreaming on their Facebook page.

In lieu of flowers it would be Elaine’s wish to make donations to the Strong United Methodist Church.

Arrangements are under the care of Dan & Scott’s Cremation & Funeral Service, 488 Farmington Falls Road, Farmington, ME, where memories, photos and condolences may be shared at www.dsfuneral.com