"Nancy" Margaret Black Dooley

Margaret "Nancy" Black Dooley, 89, a longtime resident of Longmeadow, died on Thursday, November 17, 2016, at The Reserve assisted living facility in East Longmeadow, with her family by her side.

Born in Auburn, MA, in 1927, Nancy was a graduate of the College of Our Lady of the Elms, Class of 1949. She met her husband, Bob, while coaching girls basketball in Spencer, MA. They married in 1952 and raised six children in East Longmeadow and Longmeadow.

Nancy became a committed teacher who touched the lives of many children. She taught kindergarten in Springfield for more than 20 years, at Sixteen Acres and Brightwood Elementary Schools, contributing to groundbreaking work in all-day and bilingual kindergarten.

From 1978 until 1994 Nancy and Bob enjoyed summers on Martha’s Vineyard, until they retired to East Falmouth, MA in 1995. In retirement, they wintered in Stuart, FLA.

Nancy was predeceased by her husband, Robert V. Dooley, in 2006. She is survived by her children, Robert V. Dooley Jr. (Susan) of Seaside, CA; Mary Beth Dooley Horsington (John), of Syracuse, NY; James Dooley (Geralyn) of Monson; Jane Dooley Rossi (Daniel) of West Tisbury; Joan Dooley Moore (John) of Roanoke, VA; and Kate Dooley Winans (Thomas) of Conway. She is also survived by 12 grandchildren: Christopher and Sarah Dooley; Megan Horsington Pareja (Amaru), Kathleen and Molly Horsington; Ryan (Ellen) and Ben (Jessica) Rossi; Erin, Kasey, and Jack Moore; and Jake and Hannah Winans, as well as four great granddaughters: Kira Pierce, and Kaylei, Alaina, and Sloane Rossi.
Nancy also leaves her sisters, Rosemary Riordan (John), of Worcester, MA, Elizabeth Brooks, of Middleboro, MA, and sister-in-law, Marjorie Renaud, of Santa Barbara, CA, as well as many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service for Nancy will take place at a later date, which will be announced. Memorial contributions may be sent to Elms College Development Office, 291 Springfield Street, Chicopee, MA 01013-2839, or Baystate Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice, 50 Maple St. Springfield, MA 01102

The Dooley family would like to thank all the compassionate professionals who took loving care of Nancy at The Reserve assisted living in East Longmeadow.

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