OWLS HEAD — Jean Collingwood Porter O’Hara, 88, passed away peacefully Tuesday, November 19, 2019, surrounded by her children at the Owls Head Homestead, where she had been a resident for the past three years.

The daughter of Dr. Joseph E., Sr. and Doris Ambler Porter, Jean was born in Boston, MA on January 13, 1931.

Jean attended schools in Natick and Swansea, MA as well as Cape Elizabeth and Falmouth, ME. She graduated from Deering High School, Portland, in 1949 and went on to attend Greenbriar Junior College in Virginia and Katherine Gibbs School in Boston, MA.

Jean was employed at Liberty Mutual Insurance Company when she met Robert F. O’Hara. They were married November 11, 1952 and began building a family. Jean and her family relocated to Rockland in 1960.

While in Rockland, she raised eight children and was active in the P.T.A. Jean also served as secretary for the Farnsworth Museum Guild. Later she ran the Farnsworth Museum Shop. Jean volunteered for Congressman John McKernan. She was also on the Shore Village Committee and the Rockland Parks Commission.

A master gardener, Jean helped beautify Rockland through the implementation of hanging baskets and many flowering garden areas. Jean was a watercolorist, painting landscapes, still-lifes and portraits – sharing her artwork in cards she sent to those she loved. In her later years, Jean enjoyed traveling abroad and visited Paris and London to enjoy the museums many times. She was also an avid reader enjoying historical novels, mystery and popular fiction as well as biographies. She was a long-time communicant of St. Bernards Catholic Church. Although Jean loved her children, she had a special place in her heart for her dogs, especially her last, Spencer.

Other than her parents, Jean was predeceased by her sister, Mary Ellen Pastore; her son, Christopher; and her husband, Robert.

She is survived by her brother, Dr. Joseph Jr. (Sylvia) Porter and family of Yarmouth; her children, Robert F. Jr. (Anne) of Owls Head, J. Porter and Michael J. Sr., both of Rockland, Francis J. III (Jennifer) of Owls Head, Jeanmarie (Walter) Koenig of South Thomaston, Suzanne O’Hara of Saco and Mary Ellen of Chicago, IL.

Jean is also survived by her grandchildren, Michael J. Jr. of Rockland, Reed (Kat) Gustin of Mount Juliet, TN, Christopher (Therese) of Owls Head, Olivia of Gorham, Dena Koenig of Rockland, Hilary of South Thomaston as well as four great-grandchildren.

Friends and relatives are invited to visit Sunday, November 24, from 3 to 5 p.m. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, November 25, at 10 a.m., at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church, 150 Broadway, Rockland. The Reverend Robert Vaillancourt will officiate. Interment will follow in Coughlin Memorial Cemetery, Rockland.

In lieu of flowers, Jean’s family asks those considering a remembrance, extend an offer of kindness to a recipient of their choice.

To share a memory or story with Jean’s family, visit their online Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.