Mary Ann Dolan, age 91, passed away December 31, 2020 at Kinnic Health and Rehab Home, River Falls, Wisconsin.  A longtime resident of River Falls, she was born in Chippewa County in western Minnesota near Murdock to William Joseph Foley and Agnes Lucy (Gilronan) Foley on January 31, 1929. She attended Murdock area schools and was class Valedictorian.

She married Arthur Patrick Dolan of Danvers, MN on June 29,1950. They moved to River Falls in December 1954 in order to have better educational opportunities for their children. They lived in the city until 1965, then moved to River Falls Township, where the family farm is still located.

Mary worked several decades at St. Joseph’s Home and Hospital (later to become River Falls Area Hospital) as a Certified Surgical Technician until her retirement in 1991. Hospitality was a cornerstone of all Mary did, and it has never been reported that anyone ever left her home hungry.  She would gladly assist anyone with her kind and giving personality.

Mary was an active 4-H leader, both for Mann Valley 4-H and Pierce County. An avid card player, she came to especially love Bridge. Her smiling face could be seen often at St. Bridget Parish, where she became a parishioner in 1954 and was involved in numerous activities. Mary had a strong work ethic that she enthusiastically instilled in her children. She enjoyed tending her large vegetable garden so as to enjoy the fruits of the earth all year long.

She loved traveling throughout the US and Europe, including visiting her ancestral Irish home and close relatives in County Cavan. Glacier National Park and the Rocky Mountains were also frequent and favored destinations. Visiting the family cabin at Deer Lake, near Danbury was also one of her favorite activities.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Art, and her only sibling, William Foley Jr. (Billy). She is survived by her four children: Coleen Mary Lucachick (Gary), Mark Patrick Dolan (Adele), Lucy Ann Kamrowski (Leon), and Joseph William Dolan (Karen).

She was the proud grandmother of 16 grandchildren, a current total of 16 great-grand- children, and dozens of nieces and nephews from both the Foley and Dolan family lines. She is also survived by two sisters-in-law: Muriel Jean Foley, and Barbara Ann Dolan.

Funeral Mass will be at 11:00 AM Saturday, January 9th, 2021, at St. Bridget Catholic Church, River Falls, Wisconsin. Visitation will begin at 10:00 AM at the church, with burial at St. Bridget Cemetery immediately following mass. Memorials will be used to further has passion of education at St. Bridget’s Parish School, 135 East Division Street, River Falls, WI 54022.

Because of Covid restrictions, masks will be required and social distancing will be observed. There will be no gathering after burial, and the funeral mass will be streamed at Mary’s Mass live-streamed for those unable to attend. Funeral services entrusted to the O’Connell Benedict Family Funeral Home of River Falls.