Mary B. Dolan

Albany - With hearts full of great sorrow and tremendous gratitude, we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Mary Dolan, who left us surrounded by her loving family on Monday July 27, 2026 at the age of 97. She was an incredibly remarkable woman of great strength, tremendous energy, and above all deep faith, which she utilized in the raising of her 11 children.

Born in Detroit, Michigan in 1929 Mary was the daughter of Irish immigrants, the late Catherine and William Murphy. She was raised in Albany, New York and was a devout and ultimately lifelong member of St. Francis of Assisi Church (formerly St. James) and lived a life rooted in faith, family and service. She attended St. Patrick’s School, Vincentian Institute and Maria College. She worked for the New York Telephone Company and later retired from a career with the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance.

She is now reunited with her beloved husband, the late Anthony Joseph Dolan, also an Irish immigrant, with whom she shared a beautiful marriage of 41 years until Joe’s passing in 1990.

Mary’s outgoing personality and high energy brought so much enjoyment to all who knew her. Mary was a daily communicant at not only St. James Church but at so many churches in the Albany area. She was a member of the Third Order of St. Dominic and later St. Francis and was involved in many volunteer roles within the church as well as a Eucharistic Minister to the homebound. She received a Community Service Award from the Diocese of Albany for her religious outreach to so many less fortunate. She was well known for keeping a “prayer pot” full of the intentions of those requesting prayers. But no matter how busy she was Mary always took the time to reach out to her “Prayer Army” seeking prayers for one person or another and she would often follow up by delivering a freshly baked Irish soda bread, a banana nut bread, or a chicken divan casserole.

Besides her Catholic faith and strong Irish heritage, it was her family that Mary cherished most of all. With 11 children, 23 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren, there were always activities in and out of the house. Mary was always so proud of each one’s accomplishments. She had her finger on the pulse of what everyone was doing in their lives and kept them in her daily prayers.

Mary is survived by her children Maureen Studenka (late John), James (late Ellen), Judith Stupp (Herb), Kevin (Artie Holmes), Bill (Shelda), Kathleen McCann (Brian), Susan McDonough (Neil), Joseph (Dorothy), Ann, Anthony and Michael (Kathleen Lynch); her 23 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her cherished sister Kathleen Brucker and sister-in-law Mary Murphy. She is predeceased by her brothers William and James Murphy. In addition, Mary was blessed with a great many dear friends during her life.

A wake will be held on Friday July 31st from 4 to 7pm at the Daniel Keenan Funeral Home, 490 Delaware Ave., Albany. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday August 1st at 9am at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 391 Delaware Ave., Albany. She will then be interred at St. Agnes Cemetery in Menands. In lieu of flowers and to honor Mary’s compassion for those in need, please consider donations to a charity of one's choice.

The family extends their heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to Dr. Patrick Caulfield and the staff at Shaker Place Rehabilitation and Nursing Center as well as to her caregivers Karen Brown, Sandy Gilbert and Nancy Caruso for their loving devotion and kindness to our mother. Condolences can be posted at danielkeenanfuneralhome.com.