Elaine Allen of Strong (right) was recently named Mother of the Year by the Maine Chapter of American Mothers Inc. She is pictured with her daughter, Karen Thorndike, and great-granddaughter, Christina Thorndike. (Laura Dunham photo) STRONG — Strong native and mother of six children, Elaine Allen was recently named Mother of the Year by the Maine Chapter of American Mother’s Inc.

The Strong United Methodist Church where Allen has been a member for over 50 years sponsored her for the award.

“It was quite a procedure to go through,” said Allen. Pages and pages had to be sent in about all her accomplishments over the years, which include being a member of the MSAD #58 School Board, a Cub Scout Den Leader, baking bread, cakes and pies for benefit suppers, serving as a Sunday School teacher, Worthy Matron of the Eastern Star, volunteer basketball coach and being president of the United Methodist Women among other things.

Letters were sent on behalf of Allen to the American Mother’s Inc. National Office from the House of Representatives, Rev. Gary Hubley and wife, Judy, from the Strong United Methodist church and from her six children, Karen Thorndike, Sharon Holbrook, Jeffrey Allen, Lendell H. Allen, Darren Allen and Matthew Allen. She also has 12 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

She said that her philosophy of parenting and the most important lesson is for children to love one another. “My children didn’t come with directions,” said Allen, stating that by the time she was 20 years old she had four “so I grew up with them and now we are a family of 36.”

Allen said that she was 16 in 1959 and didn’t finish high school when she and Lendell Allen got married. Later Allen obtained her GED and then took nurses aid courses, “But my mother-in-law, Minnie Allen, wanted me to go to nursing school.” So for a year Allen traveled from Strong to Waterville where she obtained her LPN license. In 1972 Allen worked part time at Franklin Memorial Hospital while running the school lunch program at Mt. Abram High School for two years.

Then Allen started working at the Strong Nursing Home for four years taking courses toward becoming a Registered Nurse. “My two boys graduated from college the same weekend that I obtained my Registered Nurse license in 1992,” said Allen.

She then worked for Androscoggin Home Health for six years and retired from nursing at Edgewood Manor and Orchard Park Nursing Homes in 2006.

On April 30 Allen will fly to New York City where she will accept her award at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel as Mother of the Year. This will be the 75th year of honoring moms who have made a difference, said Allen.