Polly Anne Mapes
March 31, 1929 ~ January 30, 2023
Resided in:
Sanford, Maine
Polly Anne Simonds Mapes, 93, of Springvale, passed away peacefully at home Monday, January 30, 2023, wrapped in cashmere with her family by her side. The daughter of John B. Simonds and Lenore (Leving) Simonds, Polly was born March 31, 1929 in Melrose, Massachusetts. Her fashion career started early as a member of the Boston Department Store Teen Board. She graduated from Melrose High School in 1946 and the Academie Moderne and the Modern School of Fashion and Design in Boston. Polly worked for Mildred Albert, “Boston’s First lady of Fashion” doing department store fashion shows and was a Hart Agency model where she did runway, print and catalogue modeling in Boston and New York City.
In 1947, while high school sweetheart H. Allen Mapes was attending Middlebury College, Polly was crowned Queen of the Winter Carnival. Allen proposed after a Celtics game in 1953 and they were married a few weeks later.
Moving to Springvale, Maine after the excitement of the cities, was a significant change but Polly took on her new role as wife, mother, homemaker and family fashion designer. She performed in the Sanford-Springvale Community Theater and was a member of the Goodall Hospital Women’s Auxiliary and the Sanford Beta Sigma Phi Sorority. In 1962, representing Maine, she was the runner-up in the National Beta Sigma Phi Valentine Queen pageant. She found her way back to fashion as a fashion show model and commentator and later did TV commercials and newspaper advertising. Polly served on the Boards of the American Red Cross of York County and the Mousam Lake Region Association.
Following Allen’s passion for sports, Polly attended sporting events of all kinds and the Red Sox spring training for 50 years. While Allen followed the statistics, Polly organized the social events which included weekend visits to the camp from Hugh Downs of the Today Show, and baseball legends Johnny Pesky, Dwight Evans, Joe Morgan.
Polly was predeceased by her husband of 67 years, H. Allen Mapes. She is survived by daughters Merilee Perkins and husband John of Shapleigh, Kristie Mapes and husband Jim Chadbourne of Wells and son Jonathan Mapes and wife Lesa of Springvale, eight grandchildren: Molly Adams, Taylor Perkins, Nate Rutter, Alec Rutter, Annie Rutter, Saunya Urban, Aleida Watts and Janzen Mapes and eight great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister, Margot Woodward of Jasper, Georgia
Visiting hours for family and friends will be held on Friday, February 10th from 4-6pm at the Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home, 580 Main Street, Springvale, where a funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 11th at 10:00 am. A graveside service and burial will be held in the spring.
Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider:
Mousam Lake Region Association PO Box 333, Springvale, Maine 04083
Sanford-Springvale Historical Society 505 Main St, Springvale, Maine 04083.
Condolences may be expressed at www.blackfuneralhomes.com
Click this link to view additional details about Polly's Services: https://my.gather.app/remember/polly-mapes
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Because we are unable to attend visiting hours we wanted to extend our condolences once again to the entire Mapes family. Having known Polly from a very young age I always found her to be welcoming, cheerful, engaging and colorful. She also had a memory like a steel trap. Not one to be afraid to remind some of us neighborhood lads of the shenanigans that took place over 60 years ago.
Still will be missed by many.
Sincerely,
Alden & Debbie Thayer
Polly’s daughter Merilee is a great friend and valued member of the Maine
Sports Hall of Fame Board of Directors. We want to offer our most sincere condolences over the passing of Polly.
Our deepest sympathy for your loss. She was a great person and a dear friend who will be sadly missed. We are in Florida at the moment but wanted to share our condolences with the family
Bobby and Stella
She and Allen were a very important part of our lives since we were young children and have continued to be great friends
To Polly,s family. I was so saddened by the news that your Mom had died. She was a most amazing woman with a sense of humor like no other. I felt privileged to call her friend and be forever thankful that I knew her. May she rest in peace with your Dad,
I have known Polly for over fifty years and had the pleasure of living right next door for almost twenty years. Polly always looked like she was ready for the runway when she walked out her front door. I often did custom sewing for her and enjoyed her sense of style and passion for clothing. She was always upbeat, funny and classy!! I know she is still “turning heads” in heaven…..You go girl!!!
I love you all very much and hope to celebrate Aunt Polly when we come to visit ❤️
Amazing, full of life, and one of a kind.
Sorry for you loss ❤️Every day will bring a memory that will make you smile maybe a tear it’s ok though makes every day just a little easier 🍸
Love to you all.
Helen
So sorry to hear of your passing. There is a vodka martini in my future!
Our thoughts and condolences to Polly’s family, from staff, alumni and Board of the School of Fashion Design Boston. We have made a donation to the Sanford-Springvale Historical Society.
Your mom was always kind when she would come into Hannaford she would always speak to me… I also remember when you had your summer home on 10th street as we lived on 109..
I also found out that Polly and I had the same Birthday! 3/31 😘
Very kind… always had a smile!
RIP …
Our deepest condolences to Merrilee and family! May your mom rest in peace with your Dad.. 🙏
Condolences to the entire Mapes family. thinking of you and wishing you moments of peace and comfort during this difficult time. May you find comfort as you remember Polly and the good times you shared.
To Polly’s family and friends, I’m so very sorry for your loss. Both she and Allen were such kind and caring folks that looked in on me often and I’m very grateful to have known them and have them as such great neighbors. Please except my dearest sympathy and condolences. John Ketchum
What a sad day, hearing of Polly’s passing. She was a wonderful friend of the Oldtimers’ Shop in Sanford. We always delighted in seeing her. My sincere prayers for peace and happy memories to her children and family.
My Grammy’s friend. My mom’s friend’s mom. My friend’s grandmother. And my Iron Tales friend. I’m so glad I got to hear you tell stories. Xo
Rest in fashion heaven. Polly was an inspiration for me and so many young women. My condolences to the families.
My condolences to the family. May you cherish the memories.
Peace be with you all in your loss.
We grew up with the “kids” down the street many years ago in Springvale, Maine. Kristy & Merilee were some of my best childhood friends and we had so many good times. Polly and Allen were good friends of my parents. Mr. and Mrs. Mapes helped shape the awesome happy times we grew up in from hanging out at the lake, Little League games (even though my brothers played for the Mailhots) and were always warm and welcoming.
Mrs. Mapes stopped my bleeding thumb after I stuck it in the spokes of a bicycle with her dishtowel. ( This after she just finished telling us not to stick our fingers in the spokes) She was a powerful force in teaching this dumb kid to listen to adults..
Mrs. Mapes was a classy, elegant, self disciplined and very bright lady.
Merilee and family, I was so sorry to hear of your Mom’s passing. Thinking of you at this time of sorrow.
Meant Thompson
Merilee,
I was saddened to learn that your mother passed away. She and Allen were one of the first couples I met when I joined Goodall Hospital 47 years ago. She became the matriarch of a grand family.
Please accept my most sincere condolences.
Peter Booth
We just read this news with great sadness – Polly and Allen were wonderful friends of Mom & Dad. She will be remembered fondly. You have our heartfelt condolences,
Dick & Sandy (Ferris) Lytle & Glenna Ferris
My condolences to Merilee and family💕I was heartbroken to hear of Polly’s passing 😔 I was in awe of her style, grace, and love of life!
I have a memory of Polly from about 5 or 6 years ago…. I went to the Shed and sat at the bar for dinner alone, (my husband was away on business) and a few seats away sat Polly and Ester. They were having a girls night out!
Well they saw me sitting by myself and offered me to join them. So I did and I will never forget that night!! We had dinner and of course drinks and talked about life, family, and everything in between! We had lots of laughs.
It was such an unexpected evening 💕 It was such a generous gesture to include me in their special night. That was Polly!
She will be forever missed! Rest In Peace
I first met Polly years ago when I worked at Saks when she & Allen would come every year for the Red Sox Spring Training. He would wait in the car & read while she shopped, every time. She was a client in the beginning but over the years I met her family and I can say blessed to call her friend. Will miss our “talks” about the latest styles each season, will miss you Polly.
I’m thankful for her amazing daughter Merilee.
Family
Impeccable
God bless Polly. A life well lived and a beautiful and loving family. Always with a bright smile and so joy filled.
I met Polly through her loving and devoted daughter Merilee. My dad and I looked forward to meeting up with them at Willys on Tuesday’s.
We are so blessed to have known her and so sorry for your loss. So many beautiful memories and her legacy will be in your hearts always.
I’m sure those who knew her saw and felt her grace. She was also a warrior.
Elegance, beauty and grace. Loving family!
I grew up on Edmund Street in Springvale (later on Howard Street) along with my brothers and sisters, Michael, Mark, Patrice, Mariellen and Jim.
Our parents were good friends of Allen & Polly with the entire Mapes Family having been an integral part of the fabric of the neighborhood and community in which we lived.
As such, we have all known Polly since childhood.
Polly was a woman who was both thoughtful and caring.
She was also a person of charm, warmth, intelligence along with a real sense of presence.
Throughout my entire life it was always Mr. & Mrs. Mapes.
Sometime around the age of 50 (which was more than a few years ago now) I ran into them both, addressed them as I always had, and Mrs. Mapes not only requested but more or less directed/ordered me to henceforth refer to them as “Allen & Polly” as I was very much an adult by then.
As old habits die hard, it was a difficult thing to do…….
Dear Marilee, Kristie & Jonathan:
Please accept our sincere and profound condolences on the recent passing of your Mom.
To the point, it was an honor and privilege to have known her. She was a great lady, a class act, wonderful neighbor and lifelong friend to our entire family.
I know that she will be missed by all of you. That being said, you should at the same time take great comfort in knowing how truly fortunate and blessed all of you were to have had the Mom that you did.
May she rest in peace along with your Dad.
Fondly,
Bill & Diana Dionne