Darlene (Billings) Holden Glover

GEORGIA – Darlene (Billings) Holden Glover died peacefully at her daughter’s home in Georgia on June 30, 2023, following an intensely-fought battle with pancreatic cancer. She was born Nov. 12, 1949, the daughter of Elwin and Alice Billings of West Paris. She attended West Paris High School, graduating from Oxford Hills High School in 1967.

Following graduation, Darlene worked at the Advertiser Democrat as a proofreader, until her marriage in 1969 to Matthew Holden. Together, they moved to Ithaca, N.Y., while he attended veterinary school. She worked as a Veterinary Technician during those years, until their return to Maine in 1974. While assisting in the opening of Dr. Holden’s veterinary practice in South Paris, Darlene also attended CMVTI, earning a Licensed Practical Nurse diploma. She then transitioned to N.H. Technical College, earning an AD in Science and Registered Nurse status. In 1981 they divorced, following the birth of their daughter, Allyssa Brooke.

For 32 years, Darlene worked as the Nurse Manager of Emergency Services at Stephens Memorial Hospital in Norway. While maintaining full-time employment, she also earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from Regents College of New York, and a Masters in Nursing and Adult Nurse Practitioner Certification from the University of Southern Maine.

As an emergency nurse, she was active in the Maine ENA, serving several terms as an officer. She also served as a mentor and preceptor to fellow RN’s and prehospital personnel, was certified in Advanced Cardiac, Pediatric and Trauma Life Support, and was an ACLS instructor for many years.

In addition to her great love of nursing, Darlene was an accomplished writer and poet. Her essays on nursing were published in the Journal of Emergency Nursing, The Maine EMS Journal and several newspapers. She was a faithful member of the Monday Morning Poets, who published an anthology of their poetry entitled WIt, Wisdom and Whimsy. She was also a member of the Mountain Poets, and was published extensively in West Coast Maine Magazine. As a member and Board member of the Maine Poet Society, she won several national prizes.

Darlene found her life-long travel companion in Raymond Glover. The two were married on November 1, 1986. Together, they explored over 90 countries, including Israel, Egypt, China, Australia, most of Europe, the Caribbean, and Mexico.

Following the death of her siblings, Darlene became the family matriarch and her home in South Paris was a gathering place for nieces and nephews. She was an active member of the First Congregational Church of South Paris, serving on several boards until her illness.

Besides family and reading voraciously, her other love was music. She sang in choirs, glee club, Vikettes, Mollyockette Sweet Adelines, and in a barbershop quartet, “Four on a Match”, which entertained Veterans with classic songs from the 1940s. She served as Music Minister for Trés Dias of Maine, leading the singing at many women’s weekend retreats.

In September 2022, Darlene and Ray moved to Georgia to be closer to their daughter, son-in-law, and two grandsons.

Darlene was predeceased by her parents Elwin and Alice Billings, her in-laws Charles and Kathleen Holden and James and Pauline Glover; her siblings Duane and Jan (Roper) Billings, Walter and Diane (Billings) Scott, and baby brother Darryl Brian Billings, and a sister-in-law, Margie Glover.

She is survived by her loving family: husband of 36 years, Raymond Glover, daughter Allyssa Brooke Cox and son-in-law James Cox, precious grandsons Nicholas and Noah Cox, brother-in-law N.Richard Glover, nieces, nephews and many friends and colleagues.

A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, July 30, 2023 at the First Congregational Church in South Paris at 1 p.m. Arrangements are under the care of Chandler Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 45 Main St., South Paris. Online condolences may be shared with her family at http://www.chandlerfunerals.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the First Congregational Church of South Paris.