Patricia Ann McDermott

Falmouth- Patricia Ann McDermott, 86, of Falmouth, passed away peacefully on September 5, 2015 at Mercy Hospital surrounded by her loving family, after prolonged chronic illness and a brief hospitalization. A daughter of Doris and Joseph Kilmartin of Portland, Patricia was a instinctual feminist, artist, and lover of nature, animals, and people. She was bornPatricia Ann Kilmartin, in Portland, on November 22, 1928. Patricia grew up in Portland, and attended St Dominics and the Gorham Normal School. A tennis champion, member of the mens ski team in high school, talented artist, and fine athlete, Patricia flourished in Portland as a youth. In 1951, Patricia married Arthur P. McDermott, a civil engineer from Portland. She eventually continued her education at the University of Southern Maine, and acquired her Real Estate license inthe seventies. With hard work, budgeting, and savvyinvestment, over the years, she and her beloved husband Arthur acquired significant Real Estate holdings while raising seven children. Later on she became involved in environmental causes and preserving the shoreline and bog in Falmouth. The Suckfish Brook Conservation Area was land owned by the McDermotts which is now a 124 acre public park owned by Falmouth on one end and Westbrook on the other. It contains a rare Northern Peat Bog along with a 3 acre beaver pond. A passionate, kind, animal advocate, Patricia had a soft spot for strays, and always had an adopted stray cat or two, and/or dog in her home, and was very fond of her cat Boots. She was also a fearless advocate for the disabled, before it was popular to do so. Patricia had a magnanimous spirit and wasnt afraid to lend a hand to the homeless and disenfranchised. One of Patricias daughters has fond memories from childhood of Patricia gently assisting a blind street musician who often needed transportation. Despite being an accomplished artist, a savvy real estate investor and a strong independent free thinker, Patricia was most proud of her seven children Rose Coffin and husband Richard, Emma Day, Arthur McDermott, Claire Langlois and husband Michael, Maura McDermott, Sarah McDermott, and Paul McDermott and seven beautiful grandchildren Margaret, Olivia, Reed, Jordan, Molly, Ruth, and Elizabeth. Patricia is survived by her children, grandchildren, and sisters Dorothy Kilmartin of Scarborough, and Katherine Noel of Falmouth. Patricia was predeceased by a brother Joseph Kilmartin. The family would like to thank Mercy Hospital and the 5th floor staff for their exemplary care of Patricia, and her caregivers Tracy, Amy, Anne, Susie and Casco Bay Home Care. Visiting hours will be held on Friday, September 11, 2015 from 4:00 to 7:00pm at Conroy- Tully Crawford Funeral Home, 172 State Street, Portland, ME. Prayers will be recited at the funeral home at 11:15am on Saturday, followed by a 12:00pm Mass of Christian burial at Holy Martyrs, 266 Foreside Rd, Falmouth, ME. In lieu of flowers, donationswill be greatly appreciated to: Shalom House, 106 Gilman Street, Portland, ME 04102; Animal Refuge League, PO Box 336, Westbrook, ME 04098 or Westbrook Animal Hospital, 189 Pride Street, Westbrook, Maine 04098