February 14, 1943 – October 13, 2026
November 4, 2026
Ann Marie Butler, 1943-2026
Our beloved Ann Marie (Dunphy) Butler passed away peacefully at the age of 83 on October 13, 2026, at the Jack Byrne Center for Palliative Care at Dartmouth Hospital in Lebanon, New Hampshire. She fought a brief illness with immense courage and grace, surrounded by her family and loved ones.
Ann was born in Colchester, Vermont, on February 14, 1943. She grew up in Waterbury and graduated from Waterbury High School in 1961. Several years later, she graduated from Johnson State College, where she obtained her bachelor's degree in Education.
For several years, Ann owned and operated a vehicle service station and convenience store in Topsham. She later followed her passion for teaching, serving as a dedicated Special Education teacher in the towns of Bradford, Vershire, and Tunbridge, Vermont. For the last many years, she made her home in Middlesex with her loving partner Clifford.
Ann was a passionate, independent, fun-loving, and faithful woman who was especially devoted to our Blessed Mother. She possessed a lifelong appreciation for gardening, cooking, singing, sewing, and collecting blue glass. She loved working with her hands and took great pride in preserving the harvests she planted by pickling.
Ann possessed an extraordinary gift for connecting with and healing animals. For most of her life, she opened her home as a rescue center for both domestic and exotic animals, never passing up an animal that needed love and care. She also bred and showed horses for many years.
Ann’s happiest and most peaceful moments were spent surrounded by her family, nature and being in her barn with her beloved animals. She cherished her family deeply and had a special place in her heart for them all.
She is survived by her partner of 25 years, Clifford Brown; her beloved daughter, Sarah Adams, and son-in-law, John Adams; and her cherished grandchildren, Elias Adams (and his wife Hannah), Nathanial Adams (and his partner Meredith), and Grace Adams. She also leaves behind her sister-in-law, Christina Dunphy, many beloved nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, friends and members of the Brown family.
She was predeceased by her husband, Francis Butler, in 1999; her parents, Daniel and Madeline Dunphy; her brothers, Melvin (and his wife Shirley) and Earle Dunphy; and Florence Viola Ford, for whom Ann was a dedicated caregiver for many years.
The family extends its sincere gratitude to the compassionate staff at the Jack Byrne Center for Palliative Care for their exceptional kindness, comfort and care during Ann’s final days.
A Celebration Mass of Ann’s life will be held at noon on Nov. 12, at St. Andrew’s Church, at 109 S. Main Street, Waterbury. A reception will be held in the church hall immediately after the Mass, and burial will follow the reception.
Please consider making a donation in memory of Ann to your local Humane Society to honor her lifelong love of animals.
Funeral services are provided by the Perkins-Parker Funeral Home.