Mrs. Mary L. Dougherty

May 2, 1932 - October 1, 2015

Mary L. Dougherty Loving Mother, Grandmother, and Sister LOWELL—Mary L. (Ryan) Dougherty, 83, passed away peacefully on Thursday evening, October 1, 2015 at Varney Crossing Nursing Home in N. Berwick, Maine. Mary was the wife of Thomas P. Dougherty who died in 2012. Mary L. Ryan was born in Lowell on May 2, 1932, a daughter of the late Joseph and Sarah “Sadie” (Fagan) Ryan. She was a graduate of St. Patrick’s Grammar School and St. Patrick’s High School in Lowell. Mary then went on to graduate as a Registered Nurse from St. John’s Hospital School of Nursing. Upon her graduation from Nursing School, Mary married Thomas P. Dougherty and together they were married 57 years and raised eight children. Mary remained at home to take care of her family. When her children were older, Mary returned to nursing as a Maternity Nurse at both St. John’s and St. Joseph’s Hospitals. She later retired from the City of Lowell after serving as a Lowell Health Department Nurse and as a School Nurse. Mary had lived with her daughter Anne and her husband Michael Dietsch in South Berwick Maine. Mary’s family – her children and her grandchildren were the center of her life. She was a very religious woman with a deep devotion to our Blessed Mother and the Rosary. Mary enjoyed reading and watching soap operas on television. She remained close friends with some classmates from nursing school, especially Jean Dussault and Theresa Riordan. Mary’s daughter Anne Dietsch passed away on May 17, 2015, and her son John M. Dougherty passed away on July 31, 2011. Mary is survived by six children, Joseph Dougherty and his wife Paula of E. Wakefield, NH, Thomas Dougherty and his wife Robin of Wolfeboro, NH, Michael Dougherty of Lowell, Mark Dougherty and his wife Barbara of Dracut, Paul Dougherty of Wolfeboro, NH and Christopher Dougherty and his wife Kelly of Andover; a son-in-law, Michael Dietsch of S. Berwick, ME; twelve grandchildren; two great grandchildren; her brother, James “Jim” Ryan and his wife Eleanor of Lowell, and four nephews. Mary was the grandmother of the late Andrew Dougherty and sister and sister-in law of the late Margaret Ryan, Joseph Ryan, Claire Egan and her husband John, Bernard Ryan and his wife Angie, and Robert “Bobby” Ryan. FUNERAL NOTICE DOUGHERTY--in N. Berwick, Maine, October 1, 2015, Mary L. (Ryan) Dougherty, 83, formerly of Lowell, and the wife of the late Thomas P. Dougherty. Family and friends may call at the FAY McCABE FUNERAL HOME, 105 MOORE STREET, LOWELL on MONDAY from 4 until 7 PM. Mrs. Dougherty’s FUNERAL will begin on TUESDAY MORNING at 9:30 AM from the Funeral Home, followed by her FUNERAL MASS at 10:30 AM at ST. MICHAEL’S CHURCH, 543 Bridge St. at Sixth St. Lowell. Burial will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Tewksbury. As an expression of sympathy, donations in Mary’s memory may be made to Varney Crossing Nursing Care Center, Attn. Activities Department, 47 Elm Street, N. Berwick, ME 03906-6724. ARRANGEMENTS BY THE FAY McCABE FUNERAL DIRECTORS, 978-459-9222. www.faymccabe.com