Donalene Dow Verge, 74 of Thomaston, passed away on the morning of Monday, May 8, 2017, peacefully at home with her family, following another battle with cancer. Born on October 24, 1942 in Damariscotta, she was the daughter of the late Wilmot S. and Helene (Simmons) Dow.

Donalene attended schools in Waldoboro, and was a graduate of Waldoboro High School a member of the class of 1960, and earned her teaching degree from the Gorham State Teachers College. She began her career teaching in Wiscasset, before joining the Thomaston Grammar School where she taught fifth grade for more than twenty-five years retiring in 1991. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma and was awarded Teacher of the Year.

During her retirement, she has spent the last twenty-four years greeting and assisting customers at Wal-Mart in Rockland and Thomaston. In 2007 she was honored, along with her husband, as grand marshals in the Thomaston Fourth of July Parade.

In addition to her devoted husband of more than fifty-three years, Dana R. Verge of Thomaston, whom she married on July 13, 1963 in Waldoboro, Donalene is survived by: her daughter, Sonia Verge Bates and her companion Greg Berry of Washington; four grandchildren, Shane, Garrett and his wife Kate, Trevor and Caitlin; two great-grandchildren, Molly and Isabella; two brothers, Dana L. Dow and his wife Lisa and Wilmot E. Dow and his wife Donna both of Waldoboro; her father-in-law Woodrow Verge of Waldoboro; several nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are invited to join the family for a service to celebrate Donalene’s life, at 2 o’clock PM, on Sunday afternoon, May 28, 2017, in the gymnasium of the old Thomaston Grammar School (Thomaston Academy), 60 Main Street in Thomaston. The Reverend Robert E. Dorr will officiate. Interment will be private.

Should friends so desire, donations may be made in Donalene’s memory to Delta Kappa Gamma Scholarship, NU Chapter ℅ Beth Chamberlain, 37 Ridgeview Drive, Thomaston, Maine 04861; or Energy 4 Life, ℅ Susan Page P.O. Box #485, Rockland, Maine 04841.

Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main Street, Damariscotta, ME 04543. Condolences, and messages for her family, may be expressed by visiting: www.StrongHancock.com.