Friday, October 26, 2007

obituary: dorothy (robinson) hannigan

Dorothy was a 2nd cousin once removed on my mother's side. Our closest common ancestors being my great-great-grandparents George Thomas and Jane (Thompson) Terrill. I am descended through their son Jacob, while Dorothy was descended through their son Abraham.

HOULTON - Dorothy (Robinson) Hannigan passed away Oct. 10, 2007, at a Portland hospital, after a short illness. Dorothy was born Jan. 23, 1918, in Littleton, the daughter of Abner Frost Robinson and Edith Terrill Robinson. Dorothy graduated from Houlton High School, Class of 1935, and Ricker Junior College, Class of 1938. She served as the executive director of Houlton Chamber of Commerce, retiring in 1980 after 16 years in that position. In 1972, she was named the first woman president of the Maine Association of Chambers of Commerce. Dorothy served as a Houlton Girl Scout troop leader, secretary of St. Mary's PTA, charter member of the Psi Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority and member of the Houlton Business and Professional Women's Club. Dorothy had a genuine love of nature from her earliest years as a Girl Guide and was happiest when gardening at her farm in Houlton or at Grand Lake. Dorothy loved the lake and shared many happy times there. Her greatest happiness in her last months was to be surrounded by friends and family and spend as much time as possible on her deck overlooking the water at Grand Lake and her garden. Dorothy was a lady who will be greatly missed by many who were touched by her energy, her caring, her love and her wonderful laugh. Dorothy, a communicant of St. Mary's of the Visitation Church, Houlton, and of St. Anne's Church, Danforth, was married to Bernard G. Hannigan, Feb. 20, 1944, who predeceased her December 2002. Dorothy was predeceased by her brother, Ernest E. Robinson, April 1998. She is survived by her four dearly loved and cherished daughters, Cobina R. Hannigan of Stuart, Fla., Carole A. Desjardins and her husband, Paul, of Yarmouth, Byrna L Miller and her husband, Richard, of Standish, and Debra D. Hannigan of Pittsfield; her nine grandchildren, Derek Lynds of Stuart, Fla., Lisa Williamson of Lincoln, Neb., Heath Henderson of Vancouver, Wash., Hayes Henderson of San Diego, Luke Miller of San Francisco, Marc and Jacob Miller of Standish, Sarah Loring and Matthew Houston of Pittsfield, who were a source of pride for Dorothy as she followed their progress into adulthood and added eight great-grandchildren into her family. She shared a special bond with her sister-in-law, Olga Robinson; nieces, Sheri Robinson Hudson and Linda Robinson Heitlauf. Dorothy is also survived by her sister-in-law, Jean Munroe Scott of Houlton; brothers-in-law, Floyd Munroe of New Limerick, Paul Munroe of Portland and Phillip Munroe of Ohio; many nieces and nephews. Friends may call 5-7p.m. Friday at Dunn Funeral Home, 11 Park St., Houlton. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 10 a.m. Saturday at Saint Mary of the Visitation Church, Houlton. Interment will be at Houlton Evergreen Cemetery. Friends who wish may contribute in her memory to St. Mary's Catholic Church or to St. Anne's Church, Danforth, care of Dunn Funeral Home, 11 Park St. Houlton, ME 04730.

SOURCE: Dorothy (Robinson) Hannigan obituary, Bangor Daily News, Bangor, Maine, 12 Oct 2007, page B7, col 6. To view Bangor Daily News obituaries online, visit http://www.bangordailynews.com/.

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