Elaine Lusth

WINDHAM — Elaine Rita (Hopkins) Lusth, 86, passed quietly on Saturday, March 12, 2016, at Ledgewood Manor.

She was born Jan. 28, 1930, in Portland, the daughter of Edward and Margaret R. (Curran) Hopkins.

Elaine was a graduate of Portland High School, where she excelled in art and clothing design.

She loved to dance and served with husband Charles for several years as officers and presidents of the International Squares Square and Round Dance Club in Calais.

Elaine worked at New England Telephone Company in Portland as a clerk in the dispatch center. She was also a receptionist and switchboard operator for the International Motel in Calais.

Elaine loved to knit, making sweaters, hats, and mittens for family, and for the dolls of her grandchildren and great-granddaughters. She also enjoyed cooking, baking, jigsaw puzzles, and bingo. Elaine was a caring person who would always extend help to family or others.

She was predeceased by her husband, Charles E. Lusth.

She is survived by two daughters, Catherine Brown of Windham and Karen Lavoie of Windham; a son, Thomas Lusth of Gray; five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; a sister, Sheila Malia of Bridgton and Florida, and her family.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 1 p.m. Thursday, at Sacred Heart Church, 326 Main Street, Yarmouth. Burial will take place at Holy Cross Cemetery, Yarmouth. Arrangements are by Conroy-Tully Crawford Funeral Home, 172 State Street, Portland. To visit Elaine's memorial page or share online condolences, please visit www.ctcrawford.com