Amaryllis E. McGuinness

Auburn-Amaryllis E. McGuinness 87, died Friday March 11, 2016. She had been a resident of The Chapman House in Auburn. She was born in Milford, ME on May 3, 1928 a daughter of the late Erwin and Caroline (Koenig) Hodsdon. Amaryllis (Amy to many) married George McGuinness on May 6, 1950 and they spent 42 wonderful years together until he passed in 1992. She worked as a social worker for many years, a job she enjoyed and was very proud of. Education was very important to Amaryllis. Due to family needs she left school returning later in life getting her GED and then in her mid fifties graduated from University of Maine Orono with her Bachelors degree in Social Services. An accomplishment she was very proud of. Amaryllis traveled to many State and National parks from here to Alaska. She also traveled to the UK, Scotland, Western Europe and Russia. On many occasions throughout her life she would go for a ride with nothing but a map and was never afraid of getting lost because she had been known to say, “Every road takes you somewhere.” Amaryllis was a lifetime member of the V.F.W. Woman’s Auxiliary, the Meenahga Grange, and she also volunteered for many years with Literacy Volunteers, helping those who needed it. She was an avid reader that loved the Auburn Public Library. She was so well known there that even when she was physically unable to visit the library they knew what books and authors she loved and they would find their way to her. She was loved by everyone she met and will be truly missed by her Chapman House Family. She leaves her daughter Sharon Chapman and her husband Ed of Auburn, her son Brett McGuinness and his wife Lisa of Greenfield, MA, a sister Carolyn Bellmore a brother Erwin Hodsdon both of SC, four grandchildren: Bryan, Sarah, Sharon and Matthew, and five great grandchildren: Emily, Colin. Ethan, Eli, and Aiden. She was predeceased by a sister LaVerne Molnar and a brother Allan Hodsdon. You are invited to offer condolences and pay tribute to Amaryllis’ life by visiting her guest book at www.thefortingroupauburn.com

Visitation will be held on Friday March 18 from 10Am-12PM. Funeral services to follow at 12 PM with a Celebration of Life at the funeral home. Committal will be held later in the spring at Mt. Auburn Cemetery. Those wishing to make memorial donations in her memory may do so to The Auburn Public Library 49 Spring St. Auburn, ME 04210. A service of The Fortin Group/Plummer & Merrill Funeral Home, Cremation & Monument Services 217 turner St. Auburn, 783-8545.