Dolores Patricia Cooley Blake

Dolores Patricia (Cooley) Blake, 86, died peacefully on Monday, October 20, 2014 at St. Mary's Home in West Hartford, surrounded by her loving family, after a long illness. Dolores Blake was born in New York City on July 7, 1928. She was the daughter of Anna and William Cooley of Queens, NY. She graduated from St. John's University in New York, where she met her husband, Thomas Blake. After they married in 1952, they moved to Hartford, then to Norwood, MA, and to East Hartford where they lived for many years. Dolores was a homemaker who enjoyed raising her five sons. Later, she was employed by Mechanics Savings Bank in Hartford. She was a communicant of St. Christopher Church in East Hartford, where she was a member of the Women's Club Holy Name Society. Dolores enjoyed spending time with her family and friends in East Hartford and in Charlestown, RI, where she had a summer home for many years. She liked to swim and play tennis and she was an avid fan of the University of Connecticut women's basketball team. Her enduring love, ready smile, sense of humor, and positive attitude touched the lives of those around her. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, Thomas Blake, and her brother, William Cooley. Dolores is survived by her brother, James W. Cooley of Huntington Beach, CA; her five sons, Thomas Blake, Christopher Blake, both of West Hartford; William and Joanne Blake, of Hebron; Jonathan and Elizabeth Blake, of West Hartford, and Robert and Julia Blake, of Needham, MA; and seven grandchildren. Funeral service will be Friday (October 24th) with a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 10 am at St. Christopher Church, East Hartford. (Everyone is asked to please go directly to the church on Friday morning). Burial will follow at Hillside Cemetery, East Hartford. Dolores' family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday (October 23rd) from 4-7 pm at the D'ESOPO-East Hartford Memorial Chapel, 30 Carter Street, East Hartford. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Dolores' name may be made to St. Christopher Church, 538 Brewer Street, East Hartford, CT 06118. For on-line expressions of sympathy to the family please visit www.desopo.com.