Anne Kelly Dolan

Anne was a successful wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, bookkeeper, Girl Scout troop leader, friend, golfer, bowler, and consummate hostess. Born in upstate New York in 1928 to William and Mae (Frawley) Kelly, Anne was the youngest of four daughters. She was a graduate of Nazareth College in Rochester, NY. Anne met and married the love of her life, Edward (Eddy) V. Dolan of Mamaroneck, NY in 1951. Their life’s journey took them to Buffalo, NY, and Erie, PA prior to settling in Bethesda, MD in 1964.

Anne and Eddy had four children, Julie, Peter, Philip, and Ned. Anne’s beloved husband Eddy was killed in a tragic plane crash in 1975, leaving her as a single parent to four teenaged children. She immediately rose to the occasion and took over as the lone head of the household, managing her young family’s schedules, finances, education, meals, and household upkeep. In 1992, Anne lost Ned, her youngest child, to health complications associated with his kidney failure. For 23 years thereafter, Ned’s family and friends gathered to celebrate his life at the annual Ned Dolan Memorial Golf Tournament, raising a total of almost $1 million for various national and local charities in the Washington, D.C. area. This event brought Mrs. Dolan great comfort, joy, and endless laughter. Anne was an active member of Congressional Country Club from 1977 until the time of her death. There she was a member of the Women’s Golf Association and bowled for the “Barry’s Bees” duckpin bowling team.

Anne is survived by her daughter Julie Dolan Roberts (F. Stone) of Delray Beach, FL and Fire Island, NY, and her sons Peter J. Dolan (Denise) of Rockville, MD, and Philip B. Dolan (Maureen) of Potomac, MD. Anne relished her role as “Nonna” to her five grandchildren, whom she adored: Conor E. Dolan, Patrick N. Dolan, Edward V. Dolan, Maeve M. Dolan, and William J. Dolan.

Mrs. Dolan had a deep and unwavering Catholic faith. She attended daily Mass for much of her life at the Church of the Little Flower, where she was a parishioner for 59 years. Family and friends are invited to call at Little Flower Church on April 30, 2023, between 5-7 p.m. to remember and to celebrate her distinguished life. The church is located at 5607 Massachusetts Ave., Bethesda, MD 20816. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on May 1, 2023, at 10 a.m. at the Church of the Little Flower. Internment will follow at Saint Gabriel’s Cemetery in Potomac, MD. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The National Kidney Foundation.