Eliot- Ella Laura (Hanford) Wiechert, 96 a long-time resident of Eliot, died on October 29, 2024 at Webster at Rye where she had made her home for the last three years.

Born on April 18, 1928 in Danvers Massachusetts, she was a daughter to the late Edmund F and Helen F. (Hennessy) Hayford. She met and married her loving husband of over sixty-one years Richard D. "Bob" Wiechert and together they settled in Eliot where they raised their family.

Ella graduated from R.W. Traip Academy in 1946 and continued her education at Gorham State Teachers College graduating in 1950. She was a beloved teacher at Eliot Elementary School for the next thirty-one years.

She enjoyed reading, spending time at the ocean, travel with her husband Bob and friends Jean and Don, the many friendships throughout the years and time spent making her signature pies for the holidays, a tradition now carried on by her son Robert. Her greatest love was time spent with her family and extended family, at family events, watching her grand and great grandchildren grow and most especially time at the family camp in Acton Maine.

She enjoyed membership in the Gorham Alumni Association, York County Retired Educators Association, Iota Chapter, Delta Kappa Gamma, International Society for Women Educators, and Sarah Orne Jewett Chapter, Order of Eastern Star in South Berwick.

Ella is survived by her family, sons; Donald Wiechert, Robert A. Wiechert and his wife Catherine and daughter Nancy E. Wiechert, grandchildren; Dr. Andrew C. Wiechert M.D and his Husband Steven Bertozzi and their son Theodore Wiechert Bertozzi, granddaughter Alison M. Wiechert and her partner Andrew Tuthill.

She was predeceased by her husband Bob, brothers Alton and Harrison Hayford.

Friends are invited to visit with Ella's family on Saturday November 9, 2024 from 11am-noon in the JS Pelkey and Son Funeral Home 125 Old Post Road Kittery Maine 03904 where a funeral will be celebrated at noon. Ella's family would like to thank the amazing staff at Webster at Rye Assisted Living Community for their care and kindness. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Footprints Food Pantry POB 246 Kittery Maine 03904. Care for the Wiechert family has been entrusted to the JS Pelkey and Son Funeral Home.