Lillian M. "Lilly" McDowell

Lillian M. (Tumpney) McDowell, 82, a lifelong resident of Pepperell, MA passed away after a brief illness on Friday, March 8, 2024, at the Community Hospice House in Merrimack, NH. 

Born on August 24, 1941, in Pepperell, she was the daughter of the late Richard and Lillian (Hills) Tumpney. Lilly graduated from Pepperell High School in 1959, where she excelled in basketball. 

Lilly is survived by her loving husband of 63 years, Robert W. McDowell; two daughters, Cynthia (Cindy) Anne Mershon and her husband George, and Linda Marie Sheehan and her husband Timothy; four grandchildren, Megan (Sheehan) Hayes, Ryan Sheehan, Robert Mershon and Rachel Mershon; and two great-grandchildren, Connor and Robert Hayes. She is also survived by her brothers-in-law, Herman McDowell, Joseph McDowell, and Harold (Rabbit) Pillsbury, and sister-in-law, Nancy McDowell.

She was predeceased by her daughter, Donna Lynne McDowell, in 1964; her sister, Virginia Pillsbury, in 2018; and her brother Richard Tumpney, Jr. in 1996. She was also predeceased by brothers-in-law Norman McDowell, Arthur McDowell, John McDowell, and Daniel McDowell. Lillian also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, and cousins, whom she loved dearly. 

Lilly married the love of her life, Bobby, on July 2nd, 1960. Together they created a loving family. She got the most joy spending time with her family, every Sunday for over 20 years. She would have Sunday dinners for them all and enjoyed spending time with them in her big backyard watching her grandkids play. Her and Bob loved having dinner out at their favorite restaurants a few times a week. They were inseparable and were each other’s best friends. Lilly also enjoyed spending time watching all her grandkids at their sporting events. She and her husband Bob were their biggest fans. 

Lilly worked for over 25 years in the insurance industry in Pepperell and enjoyed helping all her friends and family. 

Lilly’s Funeral Mass will be celebrated in Our Lady of Grace Parish worshiping at St. Joseph Church, 28 Tarbell St., Pepperell, MA on Friday, March 15^th at 10 am. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery, Pepperell.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Community Hospice House via Home Health & Hospice Care, 7 Executive Park Dr., Merrimack, NH 03054 (www.hhhc.org)