Virginia M. Dowler, age 81, passed away peacefully at the Community Hospice House in Merrimack, New Hampshire, surrounded by her loving family, on Sunday, November 25th. She was the beloved wife of the late Robert P. Dowler and prior to his passing in 2009 they shared fifty-seven years of marriage.
Born in Stoneham, she was the daughter of the late Mary (Martell) and Howard Shannon. Virginia was raised and educated in Medford and was a graduate of Medford High School. Following high school she began work at Stone & Webster Engineering where she met her future husband. After her marriage they settled in Medford to raise and care for their six children. During that time Virginia worked at Montvale Plaza in Stoneham along side her family and many dear friends. They later moved to Wilmington, where Virginia worked at the rectory of St. Thomas of Villanova Church in Wilmington.
In her leisure time she enjoyed sewing, gardening and playing cards with her longtime friends. However, her greatest joy was being a grandmother and spending time with her family. In their retirement, Virginia and Robert enjoyed the company of their children and grandchildren and shared many memories at their York Beach home in Maine.
She is survived by her devoted children, Maureen Maffeo and her husband Daniel of Illinois, Keith Dowler and his wife Cheryl of Medford, Robert W. Dowler and his wife Anne of York, Maine, Kenneth B. Dowler and his wife Deborah, David M. Dowler and his wife Kelly all of Medford and Pamela J. Machado and her husband David of Dunstable. She is also survived by 14 loving grandchildren, 2 loving step grandchildren and 2 loving great grandchildren. She was the sister of Lorraine Wheeler and her husband Larry of Biddeford, Maine, the late Howard C. Shannon and Barbara M. Shannon.
Funeral services will be held from the Dello Russo Home, 374 Main St. Wilmington on Friday, November 30, at 10:30 AM. Followed by a funeral mass celebrated in St. Thomas of Villanova Church, 126 Middlesex Ave. Wilmington at 11:30 AM. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours at the Dello Russo Funeral Home will be held on Thursday from 4 thru 8 p.m. Services will conclude with burial at Wildwood Cemetery, Wilmington. In lieu of flowers expressions of sympathy may be sent in Virginia's memory to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, 89 South St. Suite 406, Boston, MA 02111.