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, NH. 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 twenty-five 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, who passed away 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 their 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 12:00 noon on November 12th, 2026, at Saint Andrew’s Church, located at 109 South Main Street, Waterbury. A reception will be held at Saint Andrew’s Church Hall right 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.