Obituary: Sharon Lee Andrews Pulkkinen
Sharon Lee Andrews Pulkkinen, 79, of East Boothbay, passed away peacefully on September 4, 2026 at her home overlooking Linekin Bay. She was born on April 23, 1947, in Lewiston, Maine, to Kenneth William Andrews and Dorothy Louise Annis Andrews and grew up in Auburn before graduating from Edward Little High School in 1965.
After high school, Sharon met her future husband, Thomas “Tom” Pulkkinen, during a cold, windy night at a football game in Rumford, Maine, where they were both students at Edward Little. The young couple was so chilly that Tom offered Sharon his sweater, a moment that would become a cherished memory for her family.
The couple married and settled first in West Newbury, Massachusetts, where Sharon spent many years serving her local community. She was elected Treasurer of the Friends of the GAR Memorial Library and contributed to several volunteer initiatives. Later, she worked in Newburyport, and subsequently at Christian Book Distributors in Peabody, where she was involved in supporting the National Scleroderma Association through a coworker‑led project.
After decades of service and career accomplishments, Sharon and Tom retired to East Boothbay. There she continued her lifelong dedication to public service, joining the Board of Trustees of the Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library. She was also a key organizer and host of the popular “Books in Boothbay” author events at the Boothbay Railway Museum, drawing authors and readers from across the state for several years.
Sharon’s passion for history and genealogy extended beyond her local community. Together with Tom, a photographer, she traveled to cemeteries along Maine’s coast, from Lubec to Matinicus Island, helping visitors research their ancestry through the Find A Grave system. Her visits to Matinicus Island deepened her affection for the island; she remained a steadfast supporter of its library and historical society.
Sharon and Tom were parents to two children. Their daughter, Dr. Wendy Pulkkinen Loomis, is a research scientist at the University of Washington in Seattle, where she resides with her husband, Jeffrey. Wendy was a regular Sunday morning singer in the West Newbury Congregational Church, delighting parishioners with her voice. Their son, Mark, died while a student at Pentucket Middle School. Mark was remembered for a simple act of kindness: he bought a single red rose from Knapp Florist in West Newbury with his paper‑route money and gave it to someone he cared about, starting a tradition of giving roses that Sharon and Tom carried on for friends in need.
Sharon was predeceased by her parents and son Mark. She is survived by her husband Tom, daughter Wendy and son‑in‑law Jeffrey, brother Kenneth of Falmouth, brother‑in‑law George, sister Ellen Woodward of Monmouth and her husband Bill, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.
A time of visitation will be held on Friday, September 11, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Hall Funeral Homes, 975 Wiscasset Road, Boothbay. A second visitation will take place Saturday, September 12, from 10 a.m. to noon, followed by a service at the Boothbay Railway Village (586 Wiscasset Road) at noon to honor Sharon’s life and contributions.
Those who wish to honor Sharon may make memorial donations to the Portland Children’s Dyslexia Center, located at 1897 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04102. The center’s online donation page is available at https://childrensdyslexiacenters.org/donate/, with the Portland location selected. Sharon’s husband Tom has served as Chairman of the Board of Governors for several years, and the center welcomes contributions in his and Sharon’s memory.
Sharon’s life was marked by a steadfast commitment to community, a love of learning, and a gentle generosity that touched many. Her legacy will be remembered by those who benefited from her library work, her author events, her genealogical outreach, and the simple kindnesses she and her husband shared with friends and strangers alike.
