Obituary: Ann Patricia Foley
Ann Patricia Foley, a lifelong Portland resident whose work for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland touched countless lives both locally and abroad, died on June 15, 2026, at the Barron Center. She was 90.
Born on July 30, 1935, in Portland, Ann was the daughter of Philip Foley and Nora Walsh. Her paternal grandparents, Eamon McDermott and Maura Folan, hailed from Loughanbeag, County Galway, Ireland, and the family’s Irish roots remained a source of pride throughout her life. She grew up attending St. Dominic Catholic School and graduated from Cathedral High School in Portland, institutions that helped shape her deep‑rooted faith.
After completing her formal education, Ann built a successful career in banking and publishing before turning her attention to full‑time church service. In 1974 she began a 32‑year tenure with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, where she served as executive assistant to the Vice Chancellor and Vicar General in the Bishop’s Office. Later, she joined the Diocese’s Mission Office, leading the Pontifical Mission‑Aid Societies and acting as the appointment agent for Catholic Relief Services in Maine. Her work coordinated aid for missionaries worldwide and helped channel relief assistance to vulnerable populations, earning her recognition from both local parishes and international Catholic organizations.
Colleagues and friends remember Ann for her unwavering devotion to those in need, her quick wit, humility, and fiercely independent spirit. “She was always the first to offer a helping hand, never seeking recognition,” said a longtime associate. Her Catholic faith was evident not only in her professional work but also in the generosity she showed to neighbors, friends, and strangers alike.
Ann was preceded in death by her mother, Nora Walsh; her father, Philip Foley; her brother, Joseph Gerard Foley; her sister, Mary Foley; her stepfather, Thomas Walsh; and her best friends Patricia “Tita” Malia and Josephine Patricia Marr. She is survived by a wide circle of extended family and close friends who celebrated her life and legacy.
A visitation will be held on Monday, June 22, from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the Conroy‑Tully Walker Cremation, Funeral, and Gathering Center, 300 Allen Ave., Portland. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10 a.m. at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 307 Congress St., Portland. Interment will take place at Calvary Cemetery, Broadway, South Portland. Those wishing to honor Ann’s memory may visit the online memorial page at ConroyTullyWalker.com to share condolences.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to the Diocese of Portland Mission Office or Catholic Relief Services, 510 Ocean Ave., Portland, ME 04103, to continue the charitable work that defined Ann’s later years. The staff at the Barron Center, Hospice of Southern Maine, Andwell Health Partners, Conroy‑Tully Walker Funeral Home, and the Marr family have been thanked for their compassionate support throughout Ann’s final months.
