Cherrie Carlisle Bortz Obituary (1937 - 2024)

Cherrie Carlisle (Conant) Bortz, age 87, passed away peacefully on November 27, 2024 at St. Andre Healthcare in Biddeford, ME after a long courageous battle with Parkinsons. She was born in Lowell, Massachusetts on November 12, 1937, first daughter of the late William F. and H. Arlyne (Hackett) Conant. She was a graduate of Lowell High School where she was a member of the Girl Officers and served in the rank of Major. After graduating she went on to attend Lowell General Hospital School of Nursing and received her Registered Nursing degree, which she held active for most of her life. She worked for many years at Lowell General Hospital as an obstetrics nurse and assisted in delivering some of her nieces and nephews. She continued working as a nurse, serving in many functions throughout her life, until retiring. Cherrie loved the sun and ocean, spending many summers at her family cottage in Old Orchard Beach, ME, eventually making the permanent move to nearby Saco. Cherrie also had a great love for the mountains and hiking which led her and her husband Paul to become members of the Appalachian Mountain Club, Maine Chapter. Being members they were able to help with promoting the protection, enjoyment and stewardship of the mountains, forests, waters and trails. They helped with extensive improvements to the trails. They were also members of the Sierra Mountain club. Together they hiked many Maine Mountains together making beautiful memories. She spread the love of hiking to her grandchildren. Cherrie is predeceased by her husband Paul Bortz. She is survived by her two daughters, Carolyn Wronski Lefebvre and her husband David of Saco, ME, and Brenda (Wronski) Sexton and her husband William (Bill) of Biddeford, ME. She will be lovingly remembered by a brother Roger Conant and his wife Carol of Naples, FL, sister Ellen MacLeod of Chelmsford, sister Donna Peters of Dracut, and brother J. Scott Conant of Lowell. She is also survived by her grandchildren Stephen Jones and his husband Nicolai Meservy of Auburn, WA, Benjamin Machado of Miami, FL, Derek Jones and his wife Kelsey of Biddeford, ME, Chelsea Machado of Dunedin, FL, Madeline Machado and partner Teddy Trocki-Ryba of Jamestown, RI, Brady Sexton of Biddeford, ME, and two great grand-daughters Willow and Elliott Jones as well as many beloved nieces and nephews. She was also the sister-in-law of the late Janice Conant, A. Russell MacLeod, as well as aunt to the late William Peters and Alan MacLeod. We would like to thank all those who cared for Cherrie at St. Andre Healthcare over the past 5 years. You are invited to join us for visiting hours on Saturday, May 3, 2025, from 10 am 11 am at the Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home, 24 Worthen St., Chelmsford. Her Funeral Service will be held in the funeral home at 11 am following the visitation. Burial to follow at Lowell Cemetery. Service Details Visitation When May 3, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am Location Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home Address 24 Worthen Street Chelmsford, MA 01824 Funeral Service When May 3, 2025 11:00am Location Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home Address 24 Worthen Street Chelmsford, MA 01824 Interment When May 3, 2025 12:00pm Location Lowell Cemetery Address 77 Knapp Avenue LOWELL, MA 01852