Sister June Carpenter, a Maine Shaker, dies at 88

Carpenter had been experiencing health problems and limited mobility, the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village said. She was one of the community’s two longest-serving members, alongside Brother Arnold Hadd. Sister April Baxter joined last year, and novice Mac Imes joined earlier in 2026.

A librarian by training, Carpenter helped organize and catalog the village’s historical materials, writings and records, making them easier for researchers to use. Her first visit was in 1988, when the village marked the opening of its library, and she offered to help prepare its catalog. She became a member in 1989.

The Shakers are a celibate Christian group that began in the late 18th century. Once spread across communities in several states, the movement’s only active community is now at Sabbathday Lake. Carpenter also tended the village’s gardens, visited Shakers in nursing homes and cared for animals. The village said she would be remembered for her faith, kindness and commitment to Shaker life.