CAPE ELIZABETH – Arlene Maxwell Espling, 89, was born on Sept. 14, 1935, in Portland. She died on Monday, March 24, 2025, at 9:15 a.m. while resting comfortably at the Sarah Frye Home in Auburn.

Arlene was the daughter of J. Howard Maxwell and Evelyn Montgomery Maxwell. Arlene was the youngest of five children who grew up on the family farm, in Cape Elizabeth.

Arlene has joined her two brothers, Kenneth Maxwell and John Maxwell, and her two sisters, Evelyn (Maxwell) Oulton and Carolyn (Maxwell) Moffett in heaven.

Arlene married Boyd Espling on May 7, 1955, and was widowed when Boyd died on Feb. 1, 1995. She did not remarry. Instead, she focused on serving her church, parenting her children and working at the Lighthouse School and Child Care Center for many years. Arlene was a long-time member of the First Baptist Church of South Portland, now known as Hope Community Church.

Arlene enjoyed spending summers at the family camp on Madawaska Lake, in northern Maine. She also enjoyed watching the Boston Red Sox and rarely missed a game.

Arlene is survived by her two sons, Scott Espling and Stephen Espling. Scott resides in Riverside, Calif. with his wife Janelle. Stephen lives in New Gloucester. Arlene is also survived by her eight grandchildren, Izzabella, Isaiah, Sophia and Poema of Riverside, Calif., Scott Espling and his fiancé Kassidy of South Portland, Anna and Adam Gardner of South Portland, Lydia and Gabe Gendreau of Chesapeake, Va., and Seth Espling of New Gloucester.

A memorial of life celebration and graveside service will be held on Thursday, April 24, at 10 a.m. The memorial celebration will be at Hope Community Church in South Portland. The graveside will immediately follow the memorial celebration and take place at the Highland Memorial Cemetery in South Portland. Pastors Jakob Guy and Phil Andrukaitis will officiate.

The family of Arlene would like to thank the staff at the Sarah Frye Home in Auburn and the staff at The Market Square Memory Care in South Paris for showing excellent and compassionate care for her in the last few years of her life. The family also appreciates the help of the Beacon Hospice care team that met Arlene’s end-of-life needs. Steve and Scott also give a special “thank you” to Bill and Lois Bamford and Mark and Diane Farrell for all their help and concern, especially when Arlene still lived at her home in Cape Elizabeth.

Condolences may be expressed online at http://www.hobbsfuneralhome.com.