Obituary for Mary A. Molloy (Dooling)
Mary (Dooling) Molloy, 96, of 166 Kemp Avenue, North Adams, passed into the loving hands of God on February 15, 2019. A lifelong resident of North Adams, Mary, born on July 27, 1922, was the daughter of William and Ellen Dooling. Her father was once the Postmaster in North Adams.
Mary attended schools in North Adams and graduated from St. Joseph’s High School with the class of 1940. She furthered her education and graduated from The College of Our Lady of the Elms, Chicopee Falls, MA, in 1944. Returning to North Adams, she was employed by the New England Telephone Company, married James R. Molloy and began the most important chapter in her life, raising her family. Mary was an extraordinary mother, loving, caring, thoughtful, encouraging, supportive and no nonsense. She taught her children well and, when appropriate, held them appropriately accountable. Ask and they’ll tell you just that. She made every holiday and family gathering special, was a splendid cook and an eager participant in anything and everything family related. She was part lady, part trooper and part warrior all wrapped up in a loving persona. Her children would tell you that as well.
As her family grew, Mary re-entered the workforce and became a school teacher at St. Joseph’s Elementary School and then moved to the previous East, then Sullivan School from which she eventually retired. It was a frequent occurrence, over the years, to hear former students speak so lovingly and respectfully of her as their former teacher. She was a positive influence on many and was always aware of the important role that teachers play in the lives of their students. She loved being a teacher.
There were many loves in Mary’s long and full life. For years, she loved watching Johnny Carson and then David Letterman. The more ardent their humor, the more lively her laughter. She loved the Boston Red Sox, the New England Patriots and a good mocha sundae. She loved her two sisters, Margaret O’Connor and Ann Tietgens and their families. She loved telling her children about her father who died before any of them had a chance to know him. She loved God and her faith was on display every day of her life. She loved her family including her children, grand-children, great grand-children, sons and daughters in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins. She was valued, respected, appreciated and well loved by all of them. She found great peace and comfort knowing the depth of their love.
For the last many years of her life, Mary lived with her son, Patrick. Patrick went out of his way to provide her with a safe, warm and comfortable home and was a caretaker of very special proportions for all of those years. His role in her life was a loving reflection of how all of her children embraced their mother. In addition, the Molloy family wants to acknowledge the loving care provided our mother by Heather Tooley. Heather’s sense of humor, positivity and delicate and attentive caregiving will never be forgotten.
Mary leaves her six children; Jim Molloy and his wife, Tina Rychwalski Molloy, of Turnersville, NJ, Tom Molloy of Saratoga Springs, NY, Bill Molloy and his wife, Anne Ferris Molloy, of North Adams, Mary Molloy LaBombard and her husband, John, of Adams, Anne Molloy Gamache and her husband, Nelson, of Clarksburg and her son Patrick Molloy. She was pre-deceased by her husband James and her sister Margaret. She leaves many grandchildren and great grandchildren who loved her dearly. Also, she is survived by her sister, Anne Tietgens, and her husband Peter, and many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, grand-nephews, great grand-nieces and great grand-nephews.
Mary never pitched a perfect game, she never ran a marathon, she never climbed a mountain, she never ran for office, she never jumped out of an airplane and she never drove a race car. What she did, however, was to live a full life emphasizing the importance of family, friends, education, gratitude, kindness and love. That is her legacy and she would encourage everyone to strive to do the same. She will be forever missed and forever loved by all her family and friends.
FUNERAL NOTICE: A Liturgy of Christian Burial for Mary Molloy will be celebrated Wednesday February 20, 2019 at 11:00 AM at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church. Burial will follow in Bellevue Cemetery in Adams. Calling hours at FLYNN & DAGNOLI-MONTAGNA HOME FOR FUNERALS WEST CHAPELS, 521 West Main St. North Adams, MA are Tuesday from 4-7 PM. Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital or POPCares in care of the funeral home. To add to the Book of Memories, please visit www.flynndagnolifuneralhomes.com.
Mary attended schools in North Adams and graduated from St. Joseph’s High School with the class of 1940. She furthered her education and graduated from The College of Our Lady of the Elms, Chicopee Falls, MA, in 1944. Returning to North Adams, she was employed by the New England Telephone Company, married James R. Molloy and began the most important chapter in her life, raising her family. Mary was an extraordinary mother, loving, caring, thoughtful, encouraging, supportive and no nonsense. She taught her children well and, when appropriate, held them appropriately accountable. Ask and they’ll tell you just that. She made every holiday and family gathering special, was a splendid cook and an eager participant in anything and everything family related. She was part lady, part trooper and part warrior all wrapped up in a loving persona. Her children would tell you that as well.
As her family grew, Mary re-entered the workforce and became a school teacher at St. Joseph’s Elementary School and then moved to the previous East, then Sullivan School from which she eventually retired. It was a frequent occurrence, over the years, to hear former students speak so lovingly and respectfully of her as their former teacher. She was a positive influence on many and was always aware of the important role that teachers play in the lives of their students. She loved being a teacher.
There were many loves in Mary’s long and full life. For years, she loved watching Johnny Carson and then David Letterman. The more ardent their humor, the more lively her laughter. She loved the Boston Red Sox, the New England Patriots and a good mocha sundae. She loved her two sisters, Margaret O’Connor and Ann Tietgens and their families. She loved telling her children about her father who died before any of them had a chance to know him. She loved God and her faith was on display every day of her life. She loved her family including her children, grand-children, great grand-children, sons and daughters in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins. She was valued, respected, appreciated and well loved by all of them. She found great peace and comfort knowing the depth of their love.
For the last many years of her life, Mary lived with her son, Patrick. Patrick went out of his way to provide her with a safe, warm and comfortable home and was a caretaker of very special proportions for all of those years. His role in her life was a loving reflection of how all of her children embraced their mother. In addition, the Molloy family wants to acknowledge the loving care provided our mother by Heather Tooley. Heather’s sense of humor, positivity and delicate and attentive caregiving will never be forgotten.
Mary leaves her six children; Jim Molloy and his wife, Tina Rychwalski Molloy, of Turnersville, NJ, Tom Molloy of Saratoga Springs, NY, Bill Molloy and his wife, Anne Ferris Molloy, of North Adams, Mary Molloy LaBombard and her husband, John, of Adams, Anne Molloy Gamache and her husband, Nelson, of Clarksburg and her son Patrick Molloy. She was pre-deceased by her husband James and her sister Margaret. She leaves many grandchildren and great grandchildren who loved her dearly. Also, she is survived by her sister, Anne Tietgens, and her husband Peter, and many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, grand-nephews, great grand-nieces and great grand-nephews.
Mary never pitched a perfect game, she never ran a marathon, she never climbed a mountain, she never ran for office, she never jumped out of an airplane and she never drove a race car. What she did, however, was to live a full life emphasizing the importance of family, friends, education, gratitude, kindness and love. That is her legacy and she would encourage everyone to strive to do the same. She will be forever missed and forever loved by all her family and friends.
FUNERAL NOTICE: A Liturgy of Christian Burial for Mary Molloy will be celebrated Wednesday February 20, 2019 at 11:00 AM at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church. Burial will follow in Bellevue Cemetery in Adams. Calling hours at FLYNN & DAGNOLI-MONTAGNA HOME FOR FUNERALS WEST CHAPELS, 521 West Main St. North Adams, MA are Tuesday from 4-7 PM. Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital or POPCares in care of the funeral home. To add to the Book of Memories, please visit www.flynndagnolifuneralhomes.com.