Carol Dowd Boileau

Carol Dowd Boileau, 82, passed away on the morning of November 4, 2020.  

With a passion for life and joy, Carol drew in many friends. She loved nature, water, and being surrounded by family and friends. She spent nearly every summer weekend during the past 40 years in Vermont - enjoying the lake and sunsets, boating, singing and dancing with friends and family. Often, she would then capture these stunning vistas in beautiful paintings, which now grace hundreds of homes. Carol was an accomplished artist and was the art director at Screenprint-Dow. At the age of 50, she earned her MFA from Mass. College of Art in Boston. She was an active member of several art guilds: The Andover Artist Guild, The Brush Gallery in Lowell, and she exhibited her work in countless shows and galleries.

A longtime Merrimack Valley resident, Carol was a trailblazer for swimming in the area: heading up the public school swim program for children with disabilities serving Andover, North Andover and Methuen; coaching the Lawrence YWCA Wahoos; starting the Andover High School Swim Team; teaching innumerable people in the area to swim; and at the age of 76, competing in and medaling at the YMCA Masters Nationals in Sarasota, Florida.

Carol had a zest for life that enveloped those around her. She had a way of making everyone around her feel special – we were all her favorites. 

Carol is survived by her favorite children and their spouses: Colleen and Joe Brandon, Sean and Nancy Dowd, Tracy and Matthew Phillips, and Scott Boileau; her favorite grandchildren: Sarah and Florian LeSaux, Patrick and Jenny Brandon, Caitlin and Kevin Downey, McKenzie Brandon, Ryan and Kyle Dowd, Jason and Brendan Phillips; her favorite great-grandchildren: Scarlett Downey, Declan and Heloise LeSaux.

An online remembrance gathering will take place for friends and family. 

In her memory, please consider donating to the Merrimack Valley YMCA, 360 Merrimack Street, Suite 270, Lawrence, MA 01843 or The Brush Art Gallery Scholarship/Special Perspective fund: Brush Art Gallery and Studios, 256 Market Street, Lowell, MA 01852, or online https://thebrush.org/donation.htm. Be sure to include "In Memory of Carol Boileau."