FARMINGTON — Elaine M. Botka, 94, of Livermore, passed away Thursday, Dec. 14, at Orchard Park Living and Rehabilitation Center in Farmington. She was born Sept. 7, 1923, in Livermore Falls, the daughter of John W. Hagberg and Evelyn F. (Foss) Hagberg Burbank.
She was a 1941 graduate of Livermore Falls High School. Following graduation she attended Mr. Richard’s School of Barbering in Lewiston. She married G. Henry Botka, her high school sweetheart on April 29, 1944, in Portland. They enjoyed 56 years of marriage before his passing on May 19, 2000.
Elaine and Henry lived in Florida and then in Kansas City while Henry was attending watchmaker’s school. In 1946 following Henry’s graduation, they returned home to Livermore Falls. Henry went to work for Mr. Foss, Elaine’s uncle at his jewelry store. On May 11, 1959, Elaine and Henry bought Foss Jewelry Store from her aunt and uncle, Lester and Thelma Foss. Together they ran a very successful family-oriented business and always followed the “Golden Rule”: treat everyone the way you would want to be treated. In 1999, after 50 years in the jewelry business, they passed on the family business to their son Stephen. The store is still family owned by Katy Botka Quirrion after her father Stephen passed away in 2009.
Elaine was a member of the Eaton Memorial United Methodist Church in Livermore Falls, and served as a communion steward at the church. She was also a member of the Rebekahs, Order of the Eastern Star, and Pine Tree Quilters. Elaine and Henry enjoyed traveling to the West Coast, Alaska, and Europe. Elaine loved going for rides with Henry in their convertible and spending time at their camp in North Livermore. She enjoyed cooking, making pies, and one of her great joys was to have her family over for a nice meatloaf dinner.
The family would like to extend a special thank-you to the best caretaker she could have had, Faye Ann Laverdiere, for her loving care and dedication to Elaine while she was at home, and to the staff at Orchard Park in Farmington.
She is survived by her daughter, Meredith Adams and her husband Fred of Gorham, grandchildren, Jacob Adams of Portland and Katy Botka Quirrion and her husband Louie of Livermore, great-grandchildren, Madeline Timberlake and Shawn Quirrion, sisters-in-law, Betty Cook and her husband Cleon of Livermore and Arlene Hallman of South Carolina, and her brother-in-law, John Botka of Washington.
She was predeceased by her parents, her stepfather, Arthur Burbank, her grandson, Shawn Botka, half-sisters, Jane Burbank Ouellette and Alice Hagberg and a half-brother, John Hagberg.
Messages of condolence may be sent to www.finleyfuneralhome.com.
Elaine M. Botka
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