Elaina Louise Foley

Elaina was born in Westbrook on April 24, 1947, the only child of the late Florence and James Foley, and graduated from Deering High School in 1965. While balancing a life that included three children and full-time work, she returned to school and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from the University of Southern Maine in 1986, and her Master of Social Work from the University of New England in 1991.

She spent most of her professional life as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in private practice in Portland; she was passionate about her work and helping her clients live their lives to the fullest, while also being committed to her own personal growth and development along the way.

Elaina loved the ocean, her Shih Tzu (Lacey), creating beautiful container gardens every spring, wearing colorful and well-coordinated outfits and accessories, and all things crafty; from knitting to card-making to creating treasures out of polymer clay, she never met a craft she didn’t like!

Her most cherished role later in life was that of Nanny to her two now young-adult grandsons who spent countless weekends with her over the years. Some favorite activities included blowing bubbles, swinging in the backyard, building fairy houses on Mackworth Island, and eating ice cream for breakfast in her Coca-Cola themed kitchen while their mom pretended not to notice because “what happens at Nanny’s stays at Nanny’s”.

Elaina is survived by her devoted husband of seventeen years, Peter Mullen; children Elizabeth Bullen (Tom) of Casco, Maine, Chris Capoccia (Virginia) of Morehead City, North Carolina, and Amy “Trees” Whitney (Michael) of Goffstown, New Hampshire; and grandsons Kieran Whitney and Rowan Whitney. In addition to her children, she was blessed with bonus children and grandchildren whom she loved dearly and considered family in every sense of the word. Elaina also leaves behind her many Shaw cousins, dear friend Mary, and the Park Danforth community where she made many friends who became family (both residents and staff) since moving there in 2017.

Elaina is preceded in death by former husband, Bill Hemmens, and her parents.

To honor Elaina’s wishes, no funeral or memorial services are planned, and her ashes will be scattered at sea in a private family ceremony at a later date. If you feel moved to memorialize her, we invite you to consider a donation in her honor to the Center for Grieving Children, or to gather people you love for a tea party.