Obituary of Mary Dowling

Spirited, hard-working and beloved Mary Dowling, 71, died September 21 after a short, aggressive battle with cancer. Born and raised in the Kingsbridge section of the Bronx, Mary embraced the more relaxed way of life she found in upstate New York when she and her husband, Tom, moved their growing family to Glenville in June 1969. In their home on Cypress Drive she nurtured their daughter and three sons along with countless other area youngsters during her 34 years as a day-care provider. Trained as a nurse, her passion was children. Mary's legacy is of love, dignity and honesty. Her unwavering determination helped all of the children she touched develop strong positive values. Throughout her life, Mary's heart and home were open to children and they all became an extension of her own family. Mary is survived by her husband of 48 years, Tom; daughter Laura (Michael) Aldrich of Winchester, MA; sons Timothy (Lisa) of Narrowsburg, NY, and Stephen of Schenectady; and eight grandchildren: Aidan, Reed, Ella, Mallory, Liam, and Finn Aldrich, and Kate and Meghan Dowling. Her son, Thomas, died in 1988. She is also survived by her sisters Georgiana Farley of East Hanover, N.J. and June O'Brien of Randolph, NJ and her brother, Eugene Jarcynski and his wife, Mary, of East Setauket, NY. The youngest of Albert and Mae (Hansen) Jarcynski's children, Mary graduated from St. John's Grammar School in the Bronx and Mother Cabrini High School in Manhattan. She was a 1962 graduate of St. Vincent's School of Nursing in New York and worked as a scrub nurse at St. Elizabeth's Hospital. Mary had a tremendous work ethic and an appreciation for the value of a dollar. She loved life, was devoted to her family and had a colorful sense of humor. Her sisters and brother remember her for playing Michigan Rummy, following thoroughbred horse racing and the laughs they shared recalling their depression-era upbringing. Her children knew that she was always there for them. Known as "Mimi" to her grandchildren, she jokingly called herself "Meany Mary" because she enforced the rules she put in place for the children in her care. Mary's grandchildren cherished the summer weeks they spent in Glenville as "country mice" soaking up an appreciation for animals, the environment, card playing, laughter, sharing and learning about family values. After several difficult months, Mary is at peace and free from pain as she joins her firstborn, Tom. Despite its grief, her family is comforted knowing that she is surrounded by love and beauty. Mary's family and friends will cherish their memories, confident that her lessons of love, kindness, and selflessness will endure. Calling hours 6-9 p.m., Wednesday Sept. 25 at the Glenville Funeral Home 9 Glenridge Rd, East Glenville. On Thursday Sept. 26 funeral services begin at 9:00 am at the funeral home and are followed at 9:30 am by a Mass of Christian Burial from the Church of the Immaculate Conception, 400 Saratoga Rd. Glenville. Interment at St. Anthony's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Shrinershospitalsforchikdren.org