Obituary of Dolores Dowling
Dolores Dowling, 88, passed away Saturday, December 2, 2018, at her home in Poughkeepsie.
Born August 14, 1929 in New York City, she was the daughter of Edward and Anna (Schmitt) Zwissler.
She attended school in the Bronx, Pawling High School and was Salutatorian of her class at Millbrook Memorial School in 1947. Dolores graduated from the New York School of Interior Design in 1957.
She married Merritt H. Dowling, Jr. on May 17, 1953 at St. Denis Church, Hopewell Junction. Together Merritt and Dolores operated the Dowling Funeral Home in Poughkeepsie for over 50 years until his death on December 24, 2005. In addition Dolores had worked part time as an interior designer, and for IBM and Marshall and Sterling Insurance.
Dolores was a faithful parishioner of Holy Trinity Church, Poughkeepsie, where she taught CCD and was a special minister for many years. She also worked for many years for the Dutchess County Board of Elections; was a volunteer at St. Francis Hospital as a member and officer of the Auxiliary and the Gift and Thrift Shop chairperson; was a 4 H leader and worked with the Cornell Cooperative Extension; and she served as a member of the Board of Directors of the YMCA of Dutchess County where she also served on the Camp, Grounds and Public Relations Committees. In recent years she has been active as Master of Freedom Planes Grange #857 and Dutchess County Tourism.
Dolores is survived by her daughters and their husbands, Deborah and Paul Doyle of LaGrangeville, Deanna and John Scott Luhmann of Schuylerville, NY, and Meredith and Michael Beck of Greenfield, IN.; eight grandchildren Amanda Joslyn Munsell, Sarah Doyle, Nikolaus, Jessica and Ian Luhmann, Alex, Corey and Ryan Beck; and one great grandchild Eben Munsell.
Calling hours are Friday, 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 at the Doyle Funeral Home, 371 Hooker Ave, Poughkeepsie, NY.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday 10 AM At Holy Trinity Church, Poughkeepsie. Interment will be at St. Denis Cemetery, Hopewell Junction.
Memorial donations may be made to the Dutchess County SPCA, 636 Violet Ave., Hyde Park, NY 12538.
