Maryann Dolan

Maryann is predeceased by her husband of 45 years, Robert F. Dolan, and her parents Edward and Julia Bartley. She is survived by her sisters Eileen and Peggy Bartley, and her six children and their families: Edward Dolan (Raquel Orsini); Clare Dolan (Monica Worline); Julianne Dolan Lockwood (Greg Lockwood, John Lockwood, Hope Lockwood); Margaret Dolan (Jim Rupp); Robert F. Dolan, Jr. (Dawn Dolan, Robert F. Dolan, III, Shannon Dolan and Will Hoffman); and Maryellen Dolan (Dennis Roos, Ryan Arinaga, Allison Arinaga and Justin Munro, and Sarah, Declan, Matthew, and Peter Roos).

Maryann was a devoted lifelong friend and an informal spiritual compass for many in her life. A neighbor in Asbury Village described her blend of faith, wisdom, and community involvement as “a blessing to us all.” Friends and family often turned to Maryann to share in meaningful conversation about life’s big questions. Her immediately recognizable bright smile, joyous greetings, and zest for life will live on in the hearts and minds of all who knew her.

Born in 1933 in Queens, New York, Maryann was the eldest daughter of Edward and Julia Bartley, who immigrated from Ireland in 1920. Along with her sisters Eileen and Peggy, she was raised near her extended immigrant family.

Maryann always felt at home in places of contemplation and spiritual exploration. As early as grade school, she would wander over to church on Sunday afternoon, to sit and be present in the quiet. By age 11, her curiosity took her to the library, where she would slowly page through books on spirituality. Reading a passage and then meditating quietly upon it was a lifelong practice.

After graduating from Bishop McDonnell High School, Maryann attended St. Clare’s School of Nursing in Manhattan and became a registered nurse. While pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at St. John’s University, one evening she met Robert Dolan (Bob) at a Catholic Youth Organization mixer. Their love story began on the dance floor. Maryann loved to dance. She performed an Irish dance routine with her cousin at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York, and – at the age of 89 – was the last one on the dance floor at her granddaughter’s wedding.

As Maryann and Bob glided around the floor with ease, it was obvious they belonged together. They married the same year they met. Together they raised six children and joyfully danced through a full life of partnership until Bob’s death in 2003.

Maryann, Bob and their children lived in Jackson Heights, New York; Malvern, New York; East Greenwich, Rhode Island; and East Amherst, New York before settling in Gaithersburg, Maryland in 1978.

Shortly after moving to Gaithersburg, Maryann became involved at St. Rose of Lima Parish. She regularly volunteered as a catechist, teaching religious education to youth and planning and participating in numerous adult enrichment retreats. Given her deep interest in religious education, Maryann went back to college in her fifties to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from Hood College. A lover of deep, connected conversation, she would share her curiosity and passion for her studies with those who were dear to her. She freely loaned out her books, and many of her friends found it a treat to read not only the text, but also Maryann’s comments in the margins.

Maryann was involved in many book clubs, including one of her favorites – the “Wise Women.” Her work with numerous local communities continued to evolve throughout her life. Her approach to aging well was to remain engaged in the world around her in meaningful ways. She served as a mentor to students at South Lake Elementary School, where she also supported parenting groups. Her activism drew her to lend her voice to Voices of the Faithful, a group that assisted survivors of sexual abuse, and to the Women’s March in 2017. During the years she lived at Asbury, she was active with the Gaithersburg Beloved Community Initiative. The pandemic era brought new growth too, as Maryann joined Solidarity with Sisters, an online prayer community that connected her with fellow seekers from all over the world and provided added opportunities for the kind of connection, contemplation, and love for others that had long characterized her life.

Family and friends will celebrate Maryann’s life at a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Rose of Lima Parish in Gaithersburg, MD on Friday, July 26, 2024 at 10:30 am, with a viewing beginning at 9:30 am. If you would like to join the Mass of Christian Burial via livestream, log in at 10:25 am or later at https://www.youtube.com/@stroseoflimagaithersburgma2618.

The family also invites you to a celebratory Reception After Mass in the St. Rose of Lima Parish Center beginning at approximately 11:30 am.

In lieu of flowers, you are invited to honor Maryann’s memory with a gift to the Gaithersburg Beloved Community Initiative by writing a check to Asbury Foundation with GBCI on the memo line (201 Russell Avenue, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20877) or St. Francis Breadline at https://stfrancisbreadline.org.