OBITUARY: Dorothy E. Bowen, 80

Below is an obituary from Nichols Funeral Home:

WILMINGTON, MA — Dorothy “Dotty” Evelyn (Plourde) Bowen, of North Billerica, MA, passed away on March 1, 2026, surrounded by her loving family, after a brief period of declining health; she was 80 years old.

Dotty was born to Robert and Evelyn Plourde on June 22, 1945, in Jacksonville, FL. She grew up in Tewksbury with her six siblings, attending Keith Hall Academy and later graduating from Lowell State College with her degree in education.

Dotty married the love of her life, Jack Bowen in 1967. They raised their five children in North Billerica, where countless students, neighbors, and friends were welcomed as family around the kitchen island. After dedicating her life to raising her kids and opening her heart and home to anyone in need, she created a lasting impact as a teacher to hundreds of middle schoolers. Throughout her teaching career, she taught in Laramie, WY, and in Westford, Lowell, and Wilmington, MA.

In more recent years, Dotty and Jack loved hosting lunches and reminiscing with their friends, “the play group”. She never tired of telling stories and bragging about her grandchildren. Dotty will be remembered for her generous heart and her indiscriminate hospitality. Dotty lived her life as a devoted Catholic and shared her faith with all who were privileged to know her.

She is welcomed into the kingdom of heaven by her parents, her sister Betty Ann, and her son, Joseph John. Dotty will be missed dearly by her devoted husband of 58 years, Jack, daughters Kathleen (Jimmy) Maniscalco of Lowell and Mary (Patrick) Piro of Chelmsford and sons John (Tasha) Bowen of Hudson, NH, Luke Bowen of Boston, and Kevin Bowen of Westford. Dotty was a loving Nana to James, Isaac, and Joseph Maniscalco, Hannah and Keagan Bowen, Cecilia and Brock Bowen, and Jack and Claire Piro. In addition, she is survived by siblings Bob (Linda) Plourde, Tom (Terry) Plourde, Leo (Mary) Plourde, Debbie (Dan) Desmond, and Rosemary (Phil) Harcourt; sister-in-law Terri (Jim) Miner, brother-in-law Gerard McGrath, special cousins Cathy and Jackie Dean, and a number of beloved nieces and nephews.

The family extends appreciation for the compassionate care Dotty received by all the staff at Lowell General Hospital.

Family and friends will gather for Visiting Hours at the Nichols Funeral Home, 187 Middlesex Ave. (Rte. 62), Wilmington, MA, Thursday, March 5th from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. All are welcome to meet at the Funeral Home on Friday, March 6th at 9:30 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Dorothy’s Church, Main St. (Rte. 38), Wilmington, MA, at 10:30 a.m. Interment will take place in Wildwood Cemetery, Wilmington, MA.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Dotty’s memory to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

To leave a message of condolence for the family please visit our website at www.nicholsfuneralhome.com.