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Elaine "Lanny" Whiting

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Elaine

Our loving mother and friend to many, Elaine “Lanny” Barbara Whiting (née Bland) died peacefully with her children by her side on November 17. Born in Brooklyn, NY on July 9, 1934 to Leon Chumley Febland and Valeria Marie Scheimowitz, she was raised in Greenwich, CT where she attended Greenwich Academy. In 1949 she met the love of her life, Richard Eugene Whiting, whom she met while they both attended Cushing Academy. A talented dancer, she trained with Martha Graham in New York City and attended Bennington College, majoring in modern dance. She also initiated the first modern dance group at Colby College which exists today as the Colby Dancers. She and Richard were married in 1953 and remained together until his passing in 2011. A creative force to be reckoned with, Lanny lived in a world of immense possibility and imagination. She painted, sculpted, sewed, wrote, cooked, baked, gardened, entertained, sang and danced her way through a life filled with family and friends. Lanny raised her family to the smell of baking bread in Rumford, Maine, then moved upon retirement to Clark Island, St. George, Maine, Green Turtle Cay, Abaco, Bahamas, and Vero Beach, Florida. Always quick to recommend a book recently read, she loved to engage in conversations and remained interested in the expanding world of ideas. A lover of life in all its forms Lanny was especially passionate about her animals and spoiled every dog that ever came within her grasp. A proud mother of 6 children with 14 grandchildren she rarely missed a birthday or celebration and always had a place for her extended family to relax and play. Vivacious, engaging and outwardly focused, she generously gave her time volunteering and making other’s lives better and shared her love for the arts by making and doing things for others. Among her proudest of creations, a pattern, Bears & Bunnies, was featured as an exclusive WD Design for the April 5, 1977 edition of Women’s Day Magazine, just in time for Easter.
Pre-deceased by her husband Richard, her sister Anita Lankler, and her infant daughter Jennifer, she is survived by her children Christopher and Ellen Whiting of Bath, ME, Thomas Whiting of Rockland, ME, Susan Whiting of Santa Cruz, CA, Lee and Eileen Whiting of Holladay, UT, and Daniel and Renee Whiting of Cumberland Center, ME.
In lieu of flowers Lanny wished that her friends either plant a tree or give a gift to someone. Anyone wishing, may make donations to the Alzheimer’s Association or to a charity of your choice.