Pauline “Polly” Delehanty

AUBURN – It is with great sadness that the family of Pauline “Polly” Delehanty, 95, shares the news of her passing on Oct. 18, 2022, after a long battle with dementia.

Polly was born in Auburn, Maine, the second of two daughters, Henry and Mary (McLaughlin) Fearon. She was an active member of the Catholic Church her whole life and a member of the Ladies of Sainte Anne Sodality. She also enjoyed flower gardens of which she had many and was always visiting other gardens and sharing plants.

Polly put a high value friendship and she had many lifelong friends over the years who she could be found with having a cup of tea and sharing laughs. She also cared greatly about the happiness and development of girls, devoting over 25 years to her work as a Girl Scout leader and in the office of the Dirigo Girl Scout Council. She loved reading and collecting poetry. Polly loved celebrating every one of the holidays with a meal and her family could always expect a call from her asking “what are you bringing”. 

After her children were grown Polly used the switchboard operator skills she had learned years ago at the Telephone Company and went to work on the switchboard at CMMC for 20 years. After retiring Polly filled her days with walks in Thorncraig Bird Sanctuary, chats with friends, crafts, bingo, listening to the Red Sox games on the radio and watching golf on TV. 

She is survived by her three daughters Kelly and her husband Bob Martel, Ann and her husband Justin Webber, Mary and her husband Tom Santomango, grandchild Mark and his wife Samantha, great grandchildren Alexander and Clarissa. By her son Denis and his wife Nicole Grondin, grandchildren Megan and her husband Stephen Carey, great grandchildren Caleb, Josiah, and Grace, and grandson Ryan Delehanty.

Polly is predeceased by her sister Theresa, her husband Leo, and her niece Tammy Sue Santomango.

A visitation will be held on October 23, from 4-7 p.m., at The Fortin Group Funeral Home in Auburn, 217 Turner St. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Philips Church in Auburn, 2365 Turner Rd. on October 24, at 9 a.m., with a burial to follow at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Lewiston.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association, Maine Chapter, Dirigo Girl Scouts, or Stanton

Bird Club.