REM Awards (2001) — Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce — Anita Cabana
Anita Cabana was born Anita Elizabeth Howard in York, Maine, and grew up in Wells. She was an only child. She met and married Valmond Cabana and has been married for 48 years. She has two grown children, Michael, who lives with them, and Stacey, who is a teacher in the Portland area. Anita has lived most of her adult life in Waterville other than two years living in Hawaii, where her son was born.
She worked for ten years at Waterville Savings Bank and then for 25 years at the Waterville Convalescent Center—now known as Oak Grove Nursing Care Center—as their office manager. While there, she not only performed her normal office duties, but visited with the residents daily, making life-long friends with residents, their family members, and her fellow employees.
Anita is a loving, giving person. She is always just a phone call away for anyone who needs help. You can always find her visiting someone at a nursing home or hospital or giving rides to her friends. She visits the Sisters at Mount Merici Convent, bringing them much appreciated conversation and gifts. She is a great cook and often arrives with one of her many delicious dishes, such as blueberry cake or custard pie. If she can’t cheer you up with a smile or a kind word, then her “baking with love” will surely do it.
When her son was younger, Anita volunteered at Hilltop School and then served on the building committee. She was also treasurer for two years.
Since her retirement, Anita has volunteered regularly at the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce. She covers the office when everyone else is busy working on events. She answers phones, makes photocopies, does typing for major events, greets visitors (always with a big smile), helps keep the brochure racks stocked and orderly, updates e-mail addresses and fax numbers annually, and whatever else is needed of her. She comes in once a month to help with bulk mailings, more often if needed. (We generally ask her at the last minute, too!) And she’s ready to volunteer at a moment’s notice. Anita is very dependable and highly respected by everyone who knows her.
Anita loves to travel. She has visited 26 of our United States, Canada and seven foreign countries (France, Austria, Switzerland, England, the Netherlands, Italy, and Germany).
Anita was given a 65th surprise birthday party, and the room was filled to capacity with friends and family all sharing stories of how special Anita is to them.
For more information about the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce, please visit its website.