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BORN
1925
DIED
2021
Mary Nordstrom Obituary
Kennebunk, ME — Mary Elizabeth (Cummings) Nordstrom, 95, of Kennebunk, Maine, passed away on May 19, 2021 at her residence at Huntington Common in Kennebunk. A memorial service will be held at St. David's Episcopal Church, 138 York Street (Route 1) in Kennebunk on Saturday, September 18, 2021.
Mary Elizabeth was born on September 18, 1925, in Newport, New Hampshire to Gaylord G. Cummings and Helen (Pope) Cummings. She grew up in Bristol, New Hampshire, graduating from Bristol High School in 1942. She attended Middlebury College, Middlebury, Vermont, graduating in 1946 with a degree in Political Science. She also developed her music and writing skills while at Middlebury. Mary
Elizabeth married Everett R. Nordstrom in 1947 in Bristol, New Hampshire. Everett predeceased her in 2015. They were married for 67 years.
A member of the American Guild of Organists since 1966, Mary Elizabeth's career as an organist began in at the age of 13 at the Bristol (NH) Federated Church. She has served as church organist for congregations in New Jersey, New Hampshire, North Carolina and Maine, and at the Holderness School in Holderness, New Hampshire.
Her career as a music critic began during the 1970's, writing the first arts column in her native state, "Des Beaux Arts in New Hampshire," for the Manchester Union Leader. She was a regular contributor of reviews to Classical Voice of North Carolina (www.cvne.org) and created Classical Voice of New England to promote performances of classical musicians in New England.
Please visit her personal website to read more about her creative endeavors: www.classicalmusicnotes.com.
She is survived by her children, Russell E. Nordstrom of Maynardville, Tennessee; Christina Nordstrom of Plymouth, Massachusetts; Phyllis E. Nordstrom of Barnet, Vermont; David P. Nordstrom of Wilton, Maine; and Ellen J. Nordstrom of Concord, New Hampshire; five grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Mark Thallander Foundation (www.markthallanderfoundation.org) and St. David's Episcopal Church, 138 York Street, Kennebunk, Maine 04043 (www.stdavidskennebunk.org).
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Mary Nordstrom
2 Entries
Lynn Aldo
August 24, 2021
I met Mary Elizabeth on the Beach in Kennebunk several years ago. She was out with her walking poles and her friend Pete. I was there on a quilting retreat. We talked for a long time and shared eMails. She was so nice to me, and we became "electronic friends". I am very sad she is no longer walking on the beach she loved. I hear her musical notes up in the sky as the birds sing her melodies. She was a classical note in all my thoughts about her. I always looked forward to hearing from her. My thoughts are with Mary Elizabeth's family! She always mentioned that she was not one of those other "Nordstrom's"! We laughed and learned from afar, and I will always see her smiling with those long sticks walking through the sands of Kennebunk's beach. God bless and keep you my "Unlaundered Cache" friend Mary Elizabeth!
Susan Moeser
July 25, 2021
Mary Elizabeth studied the organ with me at UNC. She made the world a better place! I admired her spunk and determination. I am sorry for your loss. She set a good example by living life to its fullest.
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