Ann (Cilley) Dowd

HERMON -- Our world lost an unforgettable smile and musical voice with the passing of Ann Cilley Dowd on May 19, 2021 at her home in Hermon. She was born in Belfast during a blizzard on Feb. 23, 1952, the daughter of the late Norman and Agnes Ross Cilley. The snowstorm foreshadowed a life filled with obstacles and beauty she relished until ovarian cancer finally took it from her. Ann graduated from Belfast High School in 1970 and earned an associate degree in law enforcement at the University of Maine’s Bangor campus in 1972. She married Barry Hobert soon after and later gave birth to sons Todd and Jason Hobert, her pride and joy. Chronic health problems appeared in her 20s in the form of pancreatitis and diabetes which she would cope with the rest of her life. After her first marriage ended she met Michael J. Dowd, the love of her life, at the Bounty Taverne in Bangor in 1984. She spent the rest of her days teaching him to dance, agreeing to marry him in 1986 and giving him nearly 35 years of exhilarating love and adventures. Ann cared and dared throughout her life. She cared, of course, for her family, which grew to include daughters-in-law Stacey Wilson Hobert and, formerly, Toni Ray Hobert, and treasured granddaughters Morgan, Madison, McKenzie and Samantha Hobert, and stepgrandson Chad Kuhn. She also cared deeply about the world around her, from politics and local government, to her church and passion for sacred music, to wildlife and the outdoors. She was a proud Republican in the mold of Sen. Susan Collins, active in local, state and national campaigns. Despite her health challenges, she dared to run for office and was elected Penobscot County Treasurer in 2002 serving for four years. Her other jobs included selling Tupperware, chocolates and olive oil, and working as a secretary at several churches and the Bangor Theological Seminary. After converting to Catholicism prior to marrying Mike, she lent her pitch-perfect soprano voice to the choirs of St. Mary’s and St. John’s churches in Bangor. Perhaps the highlight of her singing vocation occurred during a trip to Rome in 2006 when she sang solo during Mass in a chapel of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. Through the years she helped organize visits to Bangor by youth choirs from France and remained in touch with several choir members and director Francis Bardot. Ann always hit the high notes, literally and figuratively. She climbed Katahdin on several occasions. She paddled the Saco River. She sailed Penobscot Bay. She performed in Shakespeare-on-the-River. She skinny-dipped at midnight in a trailer park pool. She cheered for her favorite teams at Alfond Arena, Fenway Park and Boston Garden. She convinced Mike to travel with her to Europe and Canada, to take a Caribbean cruise and to support her choice to live fearlessly even after she was diagnosed with stage-four cancer in 2018. In addition to husband Mike of Hermon, sons Todd Hobert of Elkridge, MD and Jason Hobert of Glenburn and their respective families, Ann is survived by her big brother Dick Cilley and sister-in-law Annie Cilley of Belmont; parents-in-law Harriet and James G. Dowd of Brewer; sisters-in-law Patty Dowd Kelley and her husband Richard Kelley of Brewer and Karen Dowd Schwartz and husband Robert Schwartz of Savannah, TN; several cherished nephews, nieces and cousins and more friends than could be listed on this page. She loved several dogs and cats during her life and will be buried with a lock of hair from her standard poodle Baxter who seldom left her side in recent months. Her family would like to thank the staff of Northern Light Cancer Care, for giving her a few more years of quality living, and Cyndi, David and the staff of Northern Light Home Health Care & Hospice, for making her as comfortable as possible these final few months. Visiting hours will be from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Sunday, May 23, 2021 at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St., Bangor. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m., Monday, May 24 at St. Paul the Apostle Parish, St. John’s Catholic Church, 217 York St., Bangor followed by the Rite of committal at Mt. Pleasant Catholic Cemetery. The family invites relatives and friends to share conversation and refreshments at the Brookings-Smith Family Reception Center, 163 Center St., following the burial. To remember Ann, send flowers to someone you love, adopt a pet, or dare to do something adventurous you wouldn’t have otherwise. Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com.