Sanford - Marie Sophie (Ouellette) McElhinny, 94, formerly of Brunswick died peacefully shortly before midnight on Thursday, April 13th at the Pavilion Residential Care Facility in Sanford.  She was born in Brunswick on April 12, 1923, to Andre and Delia (Tetreault) Ouellette.  Educated locally, Sophie left school early to assist her father and younger sister, Frances after the untimely death of their mother.

During the World War II years, Sophie met the love of her life.  In bathrobe and pin curls, Sophie thought she was settling in for a quiet night at home, when several co-workers urged her to join them for a night of dancing.  She caught the eye of Bernard (Pete) McElhinny, a young navy man from Pittsburgh who was stationed at the Brunswick Naval Air Base.  This handsome, soft-spoken man captured her heart and their love intensified during the final years of the war.  Sophie and Pete married after his discharge from the navy on February 15, 1947. Together they raised their two children, Michael and Diane, and enjoyed the simple pleasures of family life: a day at the beach, a drive-in movie, a game of mini-golf or a boat ride along the coast in Harpswell. They had 30 wonderful years together until Pete’s untimely death in May of 1977.

Sophie was a hard worker all of her life and she adjusted to widowhood with the help of her deep religious faith, strong work ethic, supportive friends and loving family.  She was a member of St. John the Baptist Church and served the parish in many ways including as a Eucharistic Minister. Sophie worked from her teenage years until the age of 82 as a mill worker, waitress, retail clerk, cloth inspector and personal assistant.  Sophie loved working with the public and possessed an easy laugh, kind spirit and positive attitude.  She brought joy to colleagues and customers alike.

In addition to her husband, Sophie was preceded in death by all of her siblings: Alfred, Andrew, Laura, Rose, Jeanette, Lucille, Simeon and Frances.  She is survived by her children Michael (Ancilla) McElhinny and Diane (Michael) Myers as well as a large, loving extended family of nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws.

The family would like to thank Dr. Teresa Breault and the staff of North Berwick Family Medicine, the staff of Mayflower Assisted Living, the staff of the Pavilion Residential Care Facility and the caregivers of Compassus Hospice for the loving care that Sophie received there.  Their kindness, compassion and skill made Sophie’s last years of life very meaningful.  The family also thanks Jennifer Daigle of 109 Haircuts for lifting Sophie’s spirits and making her beautiful every Sunday afternoon.  We would also like to give a special thank you to the following for helping Sophie live an independent life in Brunswick until her move to Sanford at the age of 89.  Dr. Mark Worthing and staff, the Looking Glass Hair Salon, Downeast Energy and the Atlantic Federal Credit Union met her needs with patience and respect.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, August 3, 2017 at 11:00am at All Saints Parish, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Pleasant Street, Brunswick, followed by the interment at St. John’s Cemetery in Brunswick. 

To share a memory or leave a message of condolence, please visit www.desmondfuneralhomes.com