Anne E. Scanlon

FALMOUTH - Anne E. Scanlon, 90, a longtime Portland resident, died on December 9, 2011, at Sedgewood Commons where she had lived for the past ten months. Anne was born in South Portland, a daughter of Peter J. and Agnes H. McDonough Scanlon. The family moved to the West End of Portland when she was young. She attended St. Dominic's Grammar School and graduated from Cathedral High School in the Class of 1939. She also attended the University of Southern Maine in later years. Anne cherished reminiscing about her childhood with her siblings and the mischief she could get herself in to. She was one of the first females in one of Portland's driver education courses and later went on to teach half of her neighborhood how to drive. This was preceded by an incident in which she got into a neighbor's car, put it in gear and rolled down the street, saying that it was the first time she drove - she was four years old. Anne began her working career at the South Portland Shipyard. She was then was employed at the Portland Pipe Line retiring after more than 35 years. Anne and her siblings raised their niece and nephew, Maryjane and Peter Scanlon, after the death of their mother when they were youngsters. Anne embraced opportunities to travel and embarked on trips across the United States, including Hawaii. She also visited Ireland, Scotland and Wales, other European countries, as well as Mexico, the Caribbean, Canada and Bermuda. She also enjoyed woodworking with her various power tools. Anne was especially pleased to receive the gift of a wood lathe from her nieces and nephews for her 80th birthday. She loved crafting many pieces of furniture, quilt racks, doll houses and doll furniture. Another of Anne's favorite activities was attending sporting events or watching them on television. She followed the Celtics, the Red Sox, the Patriots and any and all Cheverus High School teams. Anne was a woman of great faith who attended daily Mass, Lenten Services, and participated in many novenas. She was a lector and Eucharistic minister at St. Dominic's Church, Mercy Hospital, and for a time at the Birchwoods at Canco. Anne worked tirelessly for the benefit of St. Dominic's Church, including Christmas Fairs and weekly Bingo games. She was fervently committed to the efforts to keep her beloved St. Dominic's Church from closing. Anne was also a longtime volunteer at Mercy Hospital. She was a member of the hospital Auxiliary and served as chairperson of numerous committees. A number of her handcrafted dollhouses were raffled at various Mercy Hospital Fairs. Along with her sister Catherine, Anne was instrumental in bringing the Mercy's Gift Shop back to life. Among other things she trained shop volunteers, coordinated bake sales, planned membership meetings, arranged flowers and coordinating mailings. Mercy Hospital recognized the contribution of the Scanlon sisters when it established the "Scanlon Award" in 1996, presenting the first award to Anne and Catherine. Since that time this award is presented yearly to a top Mercy Auxiliary member. Anne was a loyal friend and supporter of the Sisters of Mercy in countless ways. The religious community honored this connection with the dedication, to the Scanlon family, of a Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes that is on the grounds of the Frances Warde Convent in Portland. Anne was also a firm believer in "the luck of the Irish." She would recount how, with that luck, she escaped the fate of 492 people in the fire at Boston's Coconut Grove on November 28, 1942. She had plans to meet friends there that night after the Boston College and Holy Cross Football Game. The Grove was extremely crowded, forcing Anne and other friends to go elsewhere nearby. Anne was predeceased by her brothers Peter, Patrick, John and James, and by her sisters Beatrice, Mary and Catherine. She is survived by her sister-in-law, Eleanor Scanlon, of Portland. The niece and nephew that she raised, Maryjane Scanlon Lord and her husband James of Taunton, MA ,and Peter, and his wife, Jean Scanlon of Westbrook; her other nieces and nephew, Kathleen Rodrigues, Maureen Upham, Patricia Ashley and James Scanlon; and several great nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews. Visiting hours will be held on Sunday, December 11, from 2:00-5:00 p.m. at the Conroy-Tully Crawford Funeral Home, 172 State St., Portland, Maine. Prayers will be recited on at Monday, December 12, at 9:15 a.m. at the funeral home, followed by a 10:00 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Patrick's Church, 1342 Congress Street, Portland. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery, South Portland, Maine. The family would like to express their deep gratitude to the staff at Sedgewood Commons who cared so kindly and professionally for Anne in her last months. Donations in Anne's memory may be made to: Alzheimer's Association, Maine Chapter, 383 US Route One, Suite 2C, Scarborough, ME 04074 Online Condolences for Anne Scanlon