THOMASTON — Eunice Mae Carey Anderson, 82, of Thomaston, died Dec. 10, 2013.

She was born to the late Francis Carey and Catherine Lamb Carey Sept. 17, 1931, in Brandon, Vt.

She married Andrew "Swede" Anderson Feb. 27, 1951, and they lived together in Chelsea and Concord, Mass., before relocating to St. George in 1970. Later in life, she and Swede lived in Cape Elizabeth, and finally in Thomaston.

Eunice was a graduate of Chelsea Memorial Hospital, where she trained to be a nurse and later she became a homemaker, caregiver, strong advocate for the American Cancer Society and was the director of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program until she retired in 1996. Eunice was passionate about making a difference in the lives of those who were ailing and ill. She believed that the elderly should contribute their knowledge to those within their community.

After her retirement, Eunice could not remain idle so she continued to work at places of interest to her and particularly those connected with her children. Eunice enjoyed occasionally working at the East Wind Inn in Tenants Harbor, where she would greet the guests and let them know it was her son, Erik, who was the chef. She also worked well into her 70s at Hannaford Bros., cooking delicacies in the aisles to promote Hannaford products. This connection to her daughter, Kathryn, and son-in-law, Rick's, careers kept her motivated and interactive with the community.

Eunice was a Catholic. She was a member of the Coastal Clippers, and she was a wonderful round and ballroom dancer with her husband, Swede. She loved to travel and took five cruises to places such as Costa Rica, the Panama Canal, Jamaica and the Caribbean islands. She also took pleasure in traveling to visit England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland with her husband. She loved Naples, Fla., where her beloved sister, Donna, resided. She loved the water and the beach; particularly Cutler's Cove behind her daughter, Kathryn's, house. Her love of the water passed onto her daughter and her son, Erik.

Eunice was a social butterfly and loved people. She arranged many an annual event at the Samoset Resort for the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, in addition to coordinating numerous fundraising events for the American Cancer Society. She loved attending plays and musicals and loved listening to music. She enjoyed mingling with the friends she made while at the Knox Hotel Apartments. She was well-known within the community and loved by many.

Eunice is survived by her two children, Kathryn Anderson-Purinton and her husband, Rick, and Erik Anderson and his wife, Tammy, all of St. George; one grandchild, Sharity Morris; one great-grandchild, Arianna Morris; and she was looking forward to the birth of her new great-grandson, due in February 2014. She is also survived by her brothers and sister, Marshall Lamb and his wife, Marie, John Carey and his wife, Elaine, Beverly Dwyer and her husband, Wendell “Doc,” and Francis “Butch” Carey and his wife, Linda; She was predeceased by her sister, Donna Spelman and her husband, Michael.

Eunice also liked to adopt strangers as her family, particularly the Sheldricks of Ashwell, Herts, England, Nicola whom affectionately referred to her as “Mum”, and her daughters, Jodie and Samantha, who called her “Gigi.”

We in the family can only say, Eunice, there are no goodbyes for us. Wherever you are, you will always be in our hearts.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Thomaston Ambulance Association, 6 Knox St., Thomaston, ME 04861.

A gathering will be held Sunday, Dec. 29, at 4 p.m. at the Knox Hotel Apartments on Main Street in Thomaston.

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home in Rockland.