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Anne Towle
February 12, 2018

Obituary

Anne Umeko Ono Towle
Born March 5, 1923 in Kofu, Japan to Hajime and Hisae (Abe) Ono.
She graduated from Methodist High School and in 1942 from The Womens Christian College of Japan (Tokyo Joshidai) where she majored in English and English Literature.
During the war years Anne worked for a local news service. After the war, Anne worked for the Occupied Armed Forces as an interpreter. It was during this time that she met and married her husband Bertram M. Towle. Together, they came via transport ship and cross country train to settle in St. Albans, Vermont. From Vermont they moved to Boston, MA, Upstate New York, Poultney, Vermont and back to Boston, all while raising five children. Upon divorcing, Anne moved to Lexington, MA where she resided for 22 years before moving to Dartmouth, where she has lived since 1997.
While residing in Boston, Anne worked as an assistant to Dr. John B. Garrett. After moving to Lexington Anne worked at Nippon Express, an Import/Export company at Logan Airport. She left that job and worked for the Town of Lexington in the Dept. of Public Works. Upon retiring, she worked part time for The Rockport Lodge. When she settled in Dartmouth, she worked part time for the Council on Aging as a senior aide and for Coastline as a Friendly Visitor calling on special needs clients in area nursing homes.
Anne epitomized the adage of “bloom where you are planted” and immediately set out to make friends and learn all she could in any new situation.
She has been a member of Old South Church in Boston, and Smith Mills Congregational Church in Dartmouth where she sang in the choir. Anne has always done volunteer work including Meals on Wheels in Lexington, and for the Council on Aging in Dartmouth.
Anne is predeceased by her parents, 3 older siblings who died in infancy, her daughter Dawn (Lisa Lee), her former husband, Bertram M. Towle, her brother in law, William Bingham, sister in law, Barbara Towle, brother in law, Yujiro Murata, and former son in law, Robert Burrows.
Anne is survived by daughter Verna Y. Miller (Richard) of Boston, MA, son David Y. Towle (Jennifer) of Waltham, MA, daughter Cynthia F. Spence (Thomas) of Dartmouth, MA and son Jonathan H. Towle (Christine) of Hudson, MA, grandchildren and great grandchildren, sister in law Betty Bingham of Vermont, sister Sekiko Murata, brother Hiroshi Ono and his wife Noriko, all of Japan, nieces, nephews and extended family in the USA, Japan and Switzerland.
The family would like to thank Heather Caron, Visiting Angel as well as the wonderful staff at the New Bedford Jewish Convalescent Home for their compassion and superb care shown to our mother.
A memorial service to celebrate Anne’s life is planned for Saturday, February 24, 2018 at 11 AM at the Smith Mills Congregational Church, 11 Anderson Way, Dartmouth, MA 02747. Arrangements are with the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford.

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Saunders-Dwyer Funeral Homes
495 Park Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
508-994-0100