HOLLIS — Dawn Mary Ducharme, 82, of Hollis, and formerly of Saco, passed away on Sept. 5, 2015, of vascular dementia at her daughter’s home.

Dawn was born on Aug. 28, 1933, in Houlton, the daughter of Donald and Avis (Boutilier) Briggs of Old Orchard Beach, and was a 1951 graduate of Old Orchard Beach High School.

She was active in the Grange and met the love of her life, Robert “Bob” E. Ducharme, at a Grange dance. They were married on June 8, 1956.

Dawn worked at the family business, Briggs Oil Service, as a bookkeeper for over 20 years. She was also employed at Pete’s True Value Hardware, Norstar Bank, Steego Auto Parts as a bookkeeper, University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine as a temporary secretary and lastly at Hannaford in Saco as a deli clerk. She retired in 1993.

Dawn and Bob settled in Saco on the Buxton Road. Not only was she active in Saco Grange #53, York Pomona Grange, but she also was a member of Annette Chapter #184 Order of Eastern Star, and an advisor to the International Order of Rainbow for Girls. She and her husband sold jewelry for the Rainbow girls for the Mabel J. Deshon Scholarship Fund.

Bob and Dawn square danced for many years until Dawn broke her leg. They also spent many summers going to York County Campground in their travel trailer and traveled with their two girls to Chicago, Nova Scotia, and New England. Because of Bob’s work, they had the opportunity to travel to Bermuda twice and Colorado. In their later years, they traveled to Florida every winter to visit family and friends. They also spent summers at her family camp in Casco on Sebago Lake.

In her younger days, Dawn took violin lessons, but she loved playing the piano and listening to music. She also loved to knit, making mittens for her grandsons, nieces and nephews every Christmas, and baby sweaters and hats for Southern Maine Medical Center. Doing crossword puzzles and jigsaw puzzles kept her busy. You could find Bob and Dawn playing cards with their dear friends every weekend.

She was a member of the Saco Congregational Church and taught Sunday school. Later in life, when she moved to her daughter’s house, she became a member of the Limerick Congregational Church.

In addition to her parents and husband, she is preceded in death by her brother, Chester Briggs.

Dawn Mary is survived by: one brother, Richard Briggs of East Orland; two sisters, Leotta Hjort of Saco, and Novella Payson of Scarborough; two daughters and their husbands, Liz and Dwight Havu, and Kay and Brian Self; three grandsons, James Havu, Daniel and Clay Self; and many nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and nephews.

There are no viewing hours as Dawn has donated her body to the University of New England to educate students in the medical field. There will be a celebration of life on Sept. 26 at 2 p.m. at the Limerick Congregational Church on Main Street in Limerick.

The family would like to extend special thanks to the staff at Truslow Adult Day Center and her staff at Beacon Hospice. Also a special thank you to all the villagers who made it possible for her to stay at home.

Those wishing to remember Dawn Mary may make donations in her name to the: Truslow Adult Day Center, c/o Southern Maine Agency on Aging, 136 U.S. Route 1, Scarborough, ME 04074; or Limerick UCC, 46 Main St., Limerick, ME 04043.

Black Funeral Homes & Cremation Services is assisting the family with arrangements.

To leave a message of condolence for the family, visit www.blackfuneralhomes.com.