HERMON and BANGOR - Mary Louise Hamilton, 81, died on August 4, 2017 at the Gorham House in Gorham, Maine. She was born on March 1, 1936, daughter of the late Harry and Bernice Hanscom. Mary was predeceased by her beloved husband of 55 years, Dana Hamilton. She attended Orrington schools and graduated from Brewer High School in 1953. From high school, she went to work for New Central Furniture for a period of five years. Mary took time out to raise a family and then went to work for the Bangor School Department for fourteen years as secretary, retiring in 1986. She enjoyed her employment at Libby’s Hallmark Shop for five years until she and her husband decided to do some traveling and spending their winters in Florida. Mary was a member of the First Baptist Church where she sang in the choir for many years and volunteered at the Salvation Army Dorothy Day Soup Kitchen. She also was an active member of the former Jaycee Wives, Bangor Area Snowmobile Club and Good Sam camping group, Roadrunners. Mary loved working outside keeping flowers blooming and helping her husband manicure their lawn. Her fingers were always busy knitting prayer shawls, afghans, scarfs, mittens, etc. and donating them or giving them where and when needed. In November of 2016, Mary moved to the Gorham House in Gorham, ME to be closer to her daughters. She is survived by her two daughters, Sandra Lee Peplau and her husband A. James Peplau of Vermont and Lynn Dube and her husband David Dube of Old Orchard Beach, Maine; two grandchildren, Adam J. Silsby of Medford, MA and Kellie R. Silsby of New York City, NY; one sister, Beverly Rogers and her husband Robert and one brother, Harry Hanscom and his wife Judy, all of Orrington, Maine; several nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her infant son, Neil Dana Hamilton, three brothers: George Hanscom of Florida, Roland Hanscom and Wendell Hanscom of Orrington and one sister, Charleen Gifford of Orrington. A memorial service will be held 4:00 p.m. Thursday, August 31, 2017, at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St., Bangor, with the Rev. Carl Schreiber, senior pastor of the East Orrington Congregational Church, officiating. The family invites relatives and friends to share conversation and refreshments at the Family Reception Center of Brookings-Smith, 163 Center St., Bangor, immediately following the memorial service. Interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery, Bangor, following the reception. Those who wish to remember Mary in a special way may make gifts in her memory to The Salvation Army Dorothy Day Soup Kitchen, 65 South Park St., Bangor, Maine 04401. Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com