Mary Elizabeth Sabine

MARY E. SABINE SOMERSWORTH -- Mary E. Sabine, 84, died April 24, 2009, at her home, surrounded by loving family. She was born June 5, 1924, in Littleton, Maine, to Edwin Burnham and Castine (Tingley) Lilley. She grew up in Smyrna Mills, Maine, and upon marriage, partnered with her late husband in his ministry. She was predeceased by her husband of 61 years, the Rev. Ralph L. Sabine, on Aug. 9, 2004. Mary and Ralph started their ministry in the Reformed Baptist Church, and continued it in the Church of the Nazarene and, for the last 22 years of fulltime ministry, in the New Hampshire Conference of the United Methodist Church. In the New Hampshire Conference, they served pastorates in Monroe and North Monroe, Pittsburg and Canaan and Bloomfield, Vt., Bethlehem and Whitefield, and Exeter and East Kingston. After Ralph's official retirement in June 1980, he and Mary remained active in ministry, especially through visitation on the shut-ins and elderly in nursing homes and hospitals for St. John's UMC, Dover, which Mary continued after Ralph's death. Mary and Ralph greatly enjoyed spending their summers with family and friends at their cottage at the Wesleyan Riverside Campground near Presque Isle, Maine. They celebrated many special anniversaries at the campground or at home in New Hampshire, including their 40th and 60th anniversary celebrations, at which they renewed their vows. Mary was predeceased by her husband Ralph and his brothers John and Ronald and Ronald's wife, Lulia Sabine. Mary is survived by sons Ralph and wife, Norine, of Lebanon, Maine, Stephen and wife, Brenda, of Newington; daughters Mary-Elizabeth McKay and husband, Steven, of Ellicott City, Md., Lois McDivitt and husband, Bill, of Mapleton, Maine, Jacquelyn Timme and husband, Stephen, of Ellensburg, Wash., and Carolyn Sabine of Somersworth; 13 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; a sister Frances Duron; a sister-in-law, Winnie Sabine; and many nieces and nephews. SERVICES: A memorial service will be Saturday at 3 p.m .at St. John's United Methodist Church, 28 Cataract Ave., Dover. Interment will be in Woodstock, N.B., Canada. Memorial donations may be made to the memorial fund at St. John's UMC.