DOROTHY JANET KIERSTEAD TOWNS

BAR HARBOR and HOLBROOK, Mass. – Dorothy Janet Kierstead Towns of Bar Harbor, formerly of Holbrook, Mass., died after an extended illness Sept. 3, 2004. After graduating from Fisher Business School, Mrs. Towns married John Towns in 1943 and lived for several years in Washington, D.C. while Mr. Towns served in the U.S. Navy. Upon moving back to their home town of Holbrook, Mass., the couple became active in many community organizations while raising their daughter, and eventually two of Mrs. Towns’ nieces. A life-long member of the Winthrop Congregational Church in Holbrook, Mrs. Towns enjoyed singing in the choir and volunteering for many of the church-related events and activities. She worked for many years for O’ Hanlon Reports and Equifax, retiring in 1989 to found her own business. Her love for meeting new people and entertaining led her to start and manage the Red House Bed and Breakfast on Great Cranberry Island, which she operated from 1990 until 1998. After suffering a stroke, Mrs. Towns moved to Bar Harbor to live with her daughter, and became an avid volunteer at Sonogee Nursing Home, where Mr. Towns resides. In 2003, Mr. and Mrs. Towns celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Mrs. Towns will forever be remembered by her friends and family as a loving caregiver for both her mother and her husband. In addition to her husband, Mrs. Towns is survived by daughter, Judith Lim and husband, Chong, of Bar Harbor; granddaughter, Jennifer Nitchman and husband, David, of Scarborough; great-granddaughter, Bryce Nitchman of Scarborough; niece, Carol Crittenden and husband, Tom; three children, Michael, Matthew, and Melanie, all of Randolph, Mass.; niece, Sallie Rood of Rockland, Mass.; two children, Neil and Keith of Holbrook, Mass. A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 16, at the Sonogee Rehabilitation and Living Center, 131 Eden St., Bar Harbor. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Mrs. Towns’ memory to the Sonogee Activities Dept., 131 Eden St., Bar Harbor, ME 04609 or First Baptist Church, 46 Ledgelawn Ave., Bar Harbor, ME 04609. Arrangements by Acadia Burial and Cremation Direct, P.O. Box 99, Mount Desert, ME 04660.