Marthe P. Dowling

Marthe P. Dowling 1932 – 2022 BRUNSWICK – Marthe P. Dowling of Brunswick passed away on Nov. 5, 2022, after a long illness. Marthe was born in Brunswick on Dec. 24, 1932, to Leonard and Germaine (St.Pierre) Schinck. She was raised on the family dairy farm in Brunswick and lived her entire life on that land. She was baptized at St. John’s Church and was a lifelong communicant. Marthe attended St. John’s Catholic School, graduating in 1947, and was a boarding student at the former Sacred Heart Academy in Jackman Station, Maine, graduating in 1951. She met the love of her life, Richard Dowling who served in the U.S. Navy, while she was working at the old Miss Brunswick Diner. They married at St. John’s Catholic Church on April 11, 1953, and built a home on her family’s farm to raise their five children. Family was always central to Marthe’s life; she loved being a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She spent much of her working life at the former Drapeau’s Pharmacy (later Downeast Pharmacy) in Brunswick as a clerk and bookkeeper. She also managed a home business with her husband, the Visi-Tray Mount Company, where she manufactured hingeless stamp mounts for philatelists. Marthe had many talents. She enjoyed cooking and was fantastic in creating wonderful meals and desserts, including many French-Canadian specialties. She most of all loved sewing and was an excellent seamstress. In the last fifteen years of her life, Marthe turned to sewing doll clothes, creating thousands of meticulous outfits, which she paired with matching shoes. These were made as gifts and to support the Sew Blessed ministry for All Saints Parish in Brunswick; she loved selling them at the Christmas Fair. She was active at St. John the Baptist Parish throughout her life. Marthe also loved to travel, visiting her children who moved to the South and relatives in Quebec, as well as a memorable trip to visit her son in Europe, touring Ireland, England, and France. Marthe was predeceased in 2021 by Richard, her husband of 68 years. She is survived by five children, Richard (Peggy) Dowling of Midlothian, Va., Daniel (Linda) Dowling of Brunswick, Diane (David) Comeau of Brunswick, Timothy (Marylynne) Dowling of LaGrange, Ga., and Matthew (Judy) Dowling of Douglas, Mass.; eight grandchildren, Keara Kingsley (John) of Woodstock, Ga., Sarah (Sam) Kim of Killeen, Texas, Katelyn (Larry) Lawson of Auburn, Ala., Zachary Dowling of Auburn, Ala., Jennifer Comeau of Brunswick, Colleen Comeau of Brunswick, Elizabeth Dowling of Douglas, Mass., and Rebecca Dowling of Douglas, Mass.; two great-grandchildren, Lily and Logan; and many nieces, nephews and their descendants. She also is predeceased by her parents; her sister Pauline Cooper, two half-sisters Yolande Kahler and Sarah Morse, and two half-brothers Edgar Schenk and Rosaire (Blackie) Schinck. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022 at 10 a.m. at All Saints Parish, St. John the Baptiste Church, Brunswick. The service will be streamed live from the Desmond Funeral Home Website. To share your thoughts and condolences with the family, please visit http://www.desmondfuneralhomes.com In lieu of flowers, donations made be made to: St. John the Baptist School 37 Pleasant St. Brunswick, ME 04011