Dorothy "Dottie" A. (Howell) Valente

Dorothy “Dottie” A. Howell Valente passed away on October 13, 2017, at The Gosnell House in Scarborough while surrounded by her loving family. Dorothy was born on October 9, 1935 in Portland. She was the daughter of Harry C. Howell and Beata Feeney Boles, and had two sisters, Barbara Howell Viola and Mary Howell Bowden. She attended Saint Dominic's Grammar School and, in 1954, graduated from Portland High School where she was a sorority sister of AQK.

Dottie worked and raised her three children on her own until 1970, which was when she married her second husband, Ernest “Speed” Valente Jr., who had four children from his prior marriage. During their 43 years of marriage, Dottie and Speed were extremely proud of their children and the wonderful life that they made together. For many years, their home in Portland was filled with their children’s and grandchildren’s laughter, and Dottie and Speed enjoyed the weekends with them together over Sunday dinners and cookouts. They also enjoyed many wonderful times with their best friends, Steve and Chris McDuffie, Mike and Pat DeSimon, and Jimmy and Ruthie Doyle.

Dorothy held various occupations throughout her life, but her favorite one was her time at UNUM, through Aramark, where she made many lifelong friends.

She was a gifted and talented knitter, and created gorgeous christening gowns for family baptisms and beautiful baby sweaters for her family and friends. She was well known for her hand-made Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls, personalizing each doll’s heart with the lucky owner’s name.

Dottie and her sister Barbara, both from Portland spent most of their spare time together. They would knit, shop, tackle the morning crossword puzzles, gather their circle of friends to meet for lunch at different restaurants around town, play Beano, take trips to Oxford Casino; but mostly just enjoy each other’s company.

She was extremely proud of her Irish heritage and celebrated each year on St. Patrick’s Day with a traditional Irish dinner and a green beer with her children. She also loved Halloween, which brought out her spirited personality by dressing in costumes with her children and grandchildren.

Dorothy is survived by her children: Steven Valente and his wife, Pam, of Windham; Bruce Crawford and his wife, Robin, of Gorham; David Valente of Falmouth; Terry Valente of Biddeford; Terri Anthoine of Portland; Debra Moran and her husband, John, of Portland; Ann Marie Cascarino and her husband, Rob, of Brooklyn, New York. Dorothy is also survived by her grandchildren: Matthew and Rachael Crawford; Renata Valente; Mark Valente; Chuck, Brad, and Danielle Anthoine; Griffin and Kira Cascarino; and Johnny and Christina Moran, as well as, her great grandchildren, beloved nieces, and nephews, and her in-laws, Carolyn DuEst, Dotty Valente, Mary and Jim Wilson, and Betty and Moe Moberg.  Lastly, she is survived by her beloved sister and best friend, Barbara Howell Viola.

Dorothy was predeceased by her husband, Ernest “Speed” Valente Jr., in 2013; her beloved sister, Mary Howell Bowden, in 2017; her two sons-in-law, Neal Anthoine, in 2010, and Jeff Smith, in 2004; and her two infants at birth, David Crawford, in 1957, and Dorothy Crawford, in 1961.

Visitation will be held in Dorothy’s honor on Friday, October 27, from 4:00 P.M.–7:00 P.M., at A.T. Hutchins Funeral Home, 660 Brighton Avenue, Portland.

A Funeral Mass will be held for Dorothy on Saturday, October 28, at 9:00 A.M., at St. Pius X Church, located at 492 Ocean Avenue in Portland, which will be followed immediately by a burial service at Calvary Cemetery, located at 1461 Broadway in South Portland. A celebration of Dottie’s life will follow the burial service where family and friends are encouraged to share their stories and memories of how she touched their lives.

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