Adelaide (Brown) Bohlander

DEARBORN, Mich. – Adelaide “Gerrie” Lillian (Brown) Bohlander died on Sept. 5, 2023 in Dearborn, Mich.

Adelaide was born on May 17, 1931 to Philip and Hazle Brown in Vassalboro, and had five brothers, Philip, Ormonde, Malcolm, Brad, and Neal.

Raised on the family farm in Vassalboro, she ventured into the city to attend nursing school at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. There, she met James “Jim” Walter Bohlander while he was on shore leave during his service in the Navy. Adelaide and Jim married in 1953 and relocated to Detroit, Mich. where Jim worked as an engineer for Chrysler.

The family relocated again in 1964, for a three-year assignment in Geneva, where Jim worked on Chrysler’s European operation. They soon returned to Michigan, though, and raised their three children, James “Jimmy,” Lisa, and Amy in Bloomfield Hills.

Adelaide was kind, gentle, and selfless. She remained positive despite hardships such as the deaths of her son and husband.

She is survived by her daughters Lisa Dickieson (Mark) and Amy Castillo (Eric); her brother Neal (Agneta); and her grandchildren Jessica, Wendy, and Philip.

Though she lived happily in Michigan, Adelaide’s true home was Maine. She cherished her brothers, the extended Crosby-Brown family, and her childhood memories of rural Maine. Her final resting place will be Vassalboro, where a memorial will be held next summer.

Donations in Adelaide’s memory can be made to the George Crosby-Philip R. Brown Memorial Scholarship Fund of the University of Maine Foundation,

2 Alumni Place,

Orono, ME 04469; or

Forgotten Harvest

Food Bank

in Oak Park, Mich.