Martha “Ann” Doane

LITCHFIELD, N.H. – Martha “Ann” Doane, 69, of Litchfield, N.H., passed away unexpectedly on Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, at her home. She was born on Feb. 25, 1955, in Lewiston, a daughter of Shirley (Jordan) Stevens and the late Carroll Stevens. Ann was the oldest of their six children and a member of the First Baptist Church of Hudson, N.H.

Ann grew up in Mechanic Falls, graduated from Edward Little High School in 1973 in Auburn, and received her bachelor’s degree from Kings College in New York. Even though Ann and her future husband Brian went to school together from elementary through high school, they didn’t start dating until after she graduated from college. Ann was the studious one sitting in the front row of class, while Brian was disrupting the teacher from the back of the class. They were married on April 25, 1980, at the Bates College Chapel in Lewiston, and settled in New Hampshire. They celebrated their 50th high school class reunion in September 2023 at the Poland Spring Inn.

Ann worked as a computer programmer at Country Kitchen Bakeries in Lewiston, and upon moving to New Hampshire continued that job at Hudson Mills and at Kollsman. She was so excited to be a mother that she left her career after having children. Later on she would volunteer with the Litchfield School District, eventually becoming one of their go to substitute teachers. For the last 22 years, Ann was an office secretary at Alvirne High School in Hudson, N.H., until her retirement this past June.

Ann was an avid reader and enjoyed playing cards with family and friends … even if it meant staying up until the paper was delivered to get a winning hand. She loved baking and was always willing to try new recipes and share her successes and missteps. She received numerous culinary arts awards from the Nashua Telegraph and had her own section of “Cooking with Ann” in each Doane Family Newsletter. She was famous for bringing her People Puppy Chow to every family function.

Ann loved knitting and crocheting gifts for friends and family. She was often found carrying around a bag containing her latest project as she visited others or just sat idle at home. She enjoyed helping others with their projects and started teaching knitting and crocheting once a month at the Aaron Cutler Library in Litchfield, N.H. Ann will be remembered for her handmade quilts for every graduation, crocheted afghans for every wedding and loads of sweaters for all the babies. These beautiful gifts were labeled “Made Especially for You by Ann Doane”, which showed her love, hope, and best wishes to everyone.

Ann enjoyed spending time with family and friends, but most importantly with her grandchildren: Violet and Reilly. Violet loved having sleepovers, doing crafts, staying up late to watch movies, and baking chocolate chip scones and waffles with her Grammie. Violet enjoyed creating obstacle courses outside with hula hoops, cones, bean bags, and frisbees for competitions with Grammie. Reilly loved playing bubbles and baby dolls with Grammie and got quite the kick out of playing shy at the start of each visit.

Ann was passionate about her genealogy research. She and Brian traveled all over the country to attend family reunions, the most recent being this July in North Dakota for the Doane Family reunion and in Auburn, for the Jordan Family reunion. She made sure records were updated and enjoyed discovering new branches of family both locally and internationally. Ann and Brian enjoyed their road trips and were able to visit many national parks and historic places.

Any event she was at you could guarantee that she would have her camera out faithfully capturing the memories. Not only did she shoot the photos, she would gather photos from others to share on flash drives and then drop off a stack of printed photos at her next visit; each one marked with the names, date, and occasion. These memories were also tracked in an annual calendar she would update and distribute to the extended family. She would diligently compose, print, fold, and mail an annual Christmas letter to her 200 closest friends and family sharing the highs and lows of each year; and she loved getting updates back from others.

Ann is survived by her loving husband of 44 years, Brian Doane; two daughters, Laura Doane and her husband Scott Morency, and Doane Dorchester and her wife Melissa; two granddaughters, Violet Morency and Reilly Dorchester; her mother Shirley; five siblings: Sheryl Olstad, Sharon Goss, Cynthia Engel, Carroll Stevens, and Lisa Bates; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at 2 p.m., at Chandler Funeral Homes & Cremation Service, 26 West Dwinal Street, Mechanic Falls with a time of visitation from 1 to 2 p.m., prior to the service. Interment will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery in Mechanic Falls To leave an online condolence for her family or to watch the livestreamed service please go to: http://www.chandlerfunerals.com.