ROCKPORT — With a fire glowing and snow falling outside the window of her cozy Rockport home, Dorothy (Dottie) Arseneau fell into a deep sleep on February 2, 2021 with her partner of many years, the love of her life, Jon Brewer, near her side.

Her long courageous battle with cancer was finally over.

Dorothy was born in Rockville, New York on February 10, 1955. She was the beloved daughter of the late Joan and Louis A. Arseneau and the beloved sister of the late Richard Arseneau and John Arseneau.

Surviving siblings, living outside of Maine, are brother James Arseneau, sister Jean Roalsvig and her husband Knut, brother Edward Arseneau and his wife Linda, and brother William Arseneau and his wife Kathy. Others from afar that she considered family are Evy Brewer, Jim Brewer and his wife Dorothy and Jay Brewer. She had several nieces and nephews.

Dorothy grew up in Huntington, New York. and graduated from the State University of New York at Oneonta. In her adult life she lived and worked as a freelance graphic designer in New York City, Stowe, Vermont, Monterey, Massachusetts, Copake, New York, and Fort Meyers, Florida, before she and Jon settled in Maine in 2010 where she had dreamed of one day living.

Dottie loved spending time in her beautiful perennial garden and creating landscapes in oil pastels. She enjoyed listening to music, singing, dancing, making people laugh, kayaking, hiking, reading, cooking, traveling, and treasured time spent with Jon and her “adopted Midcoast Maine family:” Jean Brewer, Ann and Andy Jacobson, and Margaret and Jack Dautner.

She was a passionate talented artist, baked delicious perfect pies, showed sincere compassion, had a distinct style, and could wrap a gift so elegantly that you would linger undoing her finesse.

Her curiosity, stimulated by her sense of wonder often challenged people to the core of their belief systems, and yet her kind caring heart, along with spirited wit would return amidst the heat of any deep conversations. She followed political happenings daily for many years of her life and was thrilled to live to see the recent January Presidential Inauguration. She texted many dear to her from her window, “This is the happiest day of my life!” Attached to the text message was a video of a fireworks display in her neighborhood. This was Dottie, a bit of a firecracker herself at parties, always sharing her spark of joy with others and seeking more.

She will be dearly missed by all who knew her and loved her. Her smile, thoughtfulness, and sense of humor will linger on in many hearts.

Some of her departing words follow:

“Please be happy when you think of me. Live life to the fullest.”