Bucksport
Esther Louise Bowden passed away on April 30, 2022, following a recent decline in health, with family by her side. Over the past 20 years she had endured several cancer surgeries and treatments; always with a positive acceptance and the determination to enjoy life and remaining independent up until this past winter.
Esther was born on July 14, 1935, in Harrington, daughter of Teresa and George Ames. At age 6, they moved to Bucksport, where she resided for the remainder of her life. Esther was a proud graduate of Bucksport High School, Class of 1953. Her classmates remained special lifelong friends. In July of that year, she married Eugene W. Bowden. For 58 years they raised a family and shared many special memories until his passing in 2011. Esther’s primary focus was her family. She was a very devoted wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister and aunt. Esther was an expert seamstress, making beautiful clothing and quilts. In the later years when smaller projects were easier to manage, she created everything from Christmas tree skirts to tooth fairy pillows. She was an excellent cook and looked forward to all the frequent family gatherings when she would cook entire meals or more recently cooking at least one item to be able to contribute.
Esther was an active volunteer for school events and fundraising for her children and grandchildren and, along with Eugene, attended many of their grandchildren’s sporting events. Esther and Eugene spent many years camping, initially in Maine and New Hampshire and through the Maritime Provinces of Canada. They soon discovered their love of Prince Edward Island and would camp at Twin Shores Camping Area in Darnley for the next 40 years, eventually considering this more of a summer home when Eugene retired. Esther continued to spend time there as her children supported her camping outings for 10 more years after Eugene passed away. Their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren cherish many fond memories of the time spent together there as a family. Eugene and Esther shared their love of The Island with friends becoming part of the family.
Esther was loved and will be missed by her surviving children — Stephen Bowden and wife, Juanita, Mark Bowden and wife, Delores, Craig Bowden and wife, Corinne, and Jeanna Bjorn; grandchildren — Jamie and wife, Amie, Shane and wife, Ja’Nette, Trevor and wife, Chloe, Jared and wife, Krystle, Brittany and husband, Reno, Jack and wife, Liz, Clark and girlfriend Sydney, Greg and girlfriend Brittany, Chris and wife, Lindsey, and Tyler; great-grandchildren — Paige, Peyton, Maisie, Alyx, Sadie, Jaden, Brenna, Ethan, Beckett, Gryffin, Aiden, Chancze, Greyson, Karson, Blair and Barron; brothers — Russell Ames and wife, Kathy; Robert Ames and wife, Lorre; sister-in-law Doris Bowden; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and special friends.
In addition to her parents and husband, Eugene, Esther was predeceased by their infant son Timothy, sister Marguerite, brother Arlo and Eugene’s siblings — Wilfred Bowden, Leslie Bowden, Marguerite Eckert and her husband, Philip.
Family and friends are invited to a graveside service at Riverview Cemetery, 1160 River Road in Bucksport, on Sunday, May 15, at 1 p.m. All are welcome to visit and share memories at the Arey Community Center immediately following the service at the same location.
Those who wish to make a donation in Esther’s memory may donate to Lafayette Family Cancer Institute. Gifts may be made online at www.northernlight.org or mailed to: Northern Light Cancer Care, c/o Northern Light Health Foundation, 1 Cumberland Place, Suite 300, Bangor, ME 04401. We appreciate the many years of Esther’s life, shared with her family, as a result of the successful treatments she received. We would also like to thank and recognize the staff at the Infusion Center at LFCI, who made Esther’s weekly infusions these past two and a half years seem more like a social outing to her than a necessary medical treatment. We also appreciate her care at Ross Manor. Arrangements are under the care of Mitchell-Tweedie Funeral Home and Cremation Services Bucksport. (mitchelltweedie-young.com)