Anna Delaware

SCARBOROUGH – Anna Delaware, 97, a life-long Scarborough resident, died peacefully at the Gosnell House with her daughter by her side on Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021. Born on Dec. 13, 1923, Anna was the first of three daughters born to Percy and Elinor (Harmon) Wright. Shortly after graduating from Scarborough High School in 1941, Anna began training as a nurse and worked with Dr. Alice Whittier in Portland and Brunswick.Upon his return from the service, Anna married her classmate, Warren Delaware on May 23, 1946. They built their home in West Scarborough where they raised their son and daughter. During their 66 years together, Anna, Warren and their children enjoyed the outdoors – hunting, fishing, camping – and all that Maine had to offer. Extended adventures included cross-country family camping trips to Alaska, the Yukon, etc. Together, they instilled a love and appreciation of nature in their family that continues today.Anna spent many years working in the Scarborough Town Office, and is still well known, respected, and admired by town employees and officials. Anna also volunteered with several local organizations; as the last charter member of the Scarborough Historical Society, she devoted countless hours to its cause for the better part of 60 years. She enjoyed sharing the history of her town with decades of Scarborough schoolchildren. In recent years Anna embraced her role as Nana and Gram to her great-grandchildren. Anna loved to share stories of her local experiences, including celebrity encounters at the old Portland Airport adjacent to her home, riding the old trolley lines home from school, as well as other mischievous and entertaining tales brought to life by the character and enthusiasm with which she would tell them.Anna was predeceased by her husband in 2013; her parents; and her sister, Mary.Anna’s loving legacy will continue on through her son, Roger Delaware and his wife Rebecca, her daughter, Joyce (Delaware) Alden and her husband Charles; her grandchildren, Edward Alden and his wife Lynne, Bethany (Delaware) Bosse and her husband Peter, Robert Alden and his wife Leslie, Dwight Delaware and his wife Tonja; and her beloved great-grandchildren, Seth, Maelee, Noah, Annabelle, Courtney, and Isaiah; as well as her sister, Margaret Melnick; niece, Constance Hettinga and her husband Keith, her nephew, Jay Nason and his wife Cathy; and two great-nephews, Tyson and Timothy Nason. The family would like to thank the kind, compassionate folks at the Gosnell House for Anna’s care. A celebration of her life will be held at a later date.Arrangements by Hobbs Funeral Home, Scarborough.Those wishing to remember Anna and continue her passion for local history may make gifts in her name to theScarborough Historical Society and Museum,P.O. Box 156,Scarborough, ME 04070https://www.scarboroughhistoricalsociety.org/.