NEW GLOUCESTER – One of the world’s last Shakers has died, leaving the religious group’s only remaining community with six members.

Sister Marie Frances Burgess died Monday at age 81 at the Shaker village, becoming the second Shaker to die in a year. In January, Sister Minnie Green died at 90 in a nursing home.

Sister Marie entered the community in 1939, when she was 19. She contributed much in her 62 years at Sabbathday Lake, and while she and the others remained true to their faith, she saw profound change.

“It is almost like the end of an era for me,” said Sister Frances Carr, eldress of the community.

Also called the United Society of Believers, the Shaker faith originated in England in 1774. Followers became know as Shakers for their enthusiastic motions during prayer services.

The Shakers settled in 1783 at Sabbathday Lake, one of 19 Shaker communities across the country at one time or another.

The Maine village is the only one left. There was a Shaker community in Canterbury, N.H., but the last member died in 1992.

Sister Frances remains confident of her religion’s future, even though she acknowledges things will never be the same.

“Being part of that huge circle of dedicated, consecrated believers in this faith is something that perhaps will never happen again,” she said. “I don’t think it will ever be the same as it was 60 years ago. Things change. Life changes. It’s hard for me to describe, but it’s just the passing of an era.”

Unlike Sister Minnie, who had been ill for several years, Sister Marie was healthy until a few months ago. She lived her last days in the five-story brick “dwelling house” where all Shakers live.

At Sabbathday Lake, she filled many roles.

“She helped make literally tons of candy,” said Brother Arnold Hadd, the village’s other trustee. She made peppermint patties, wintergreen patties and fudge bars and dipped chocolate.

She knitted mittens and scarves that were sold in the store, made dolls and dusters. She worked in the raspberry patch, baked bread and biscuits.

“She really was a workhorse,” Brother Arnold said. “There was nothing she wouldn’t do. She was always an extra pair of hands. She worked on the farm, in the gardens and she was also quite a baker.”

Shakers are celibate, take a vow of poverty and live the motto “hands to work and hearts to God,” but they do not shun the modern world.

In fact, they maintain a page on the World Wide Web. And while she was deeply faithful to her religion, Sister Marie had outside interests.

“Her favorite subject was probably the Boston Red Sox,” Brother Arnold said. “She was an avid fan, and every year, she was convinced, was going to be the year.”

A funeral service will take place at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Shaker Community. Burial will follow.

AP FILE PHOTO