Margaret Nuala (Carr) Dolan

Link to recorded Funeral Mass: https://vimeo.com/1030928620

Quiet Dignity, Unflinching Faith, and Extraordinary Courage Margaret “Nuala” Dolan (née Carr)

December 12, 1933 – November 17, 2024

Margaret “Nuala” Carr Dolan passed away peacefully on November 17, 2024, at Accent Hospice in Milton, with her daughter holding her hand. Born in Bushypark, County Galway, Ireland, she was the sixth of twelve children of Mark and Margaret (Clancy) Carr. Nuala entered the world by kerosene lamp in a modest two-room house with a tar floor, a tin roof, and a well for water. Though materially humble, her home was rich in love and grounded in the Catholic faith.

At just 17, Nuala emigrated to the United States, sailing into Ellis Island with courage and hope. Supported by her sister Eileen, who loaned her boat passage, and her Aunt Kate, who sponsored her arrival, she settled in Boston and began a remarkable journey. Armed with only a secondary certificate, Mum worked at a hat shop, an insurance company, and even a weather modeling lab at MIT.

Nuala married Joseph Dolan, and together, they built a life in Milton. Though Dad was outgoing and gregarious while Mum was quiet and reserved, their bond was unshakable. They complemented one another like a salt-and- pepper set, sharing over 50 years of marriage and road-tripping thousands of miles across New England.

Mum’s life was deeply rooted in faith, family, and generosity. She carried forward the kindness of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society, who supported her family after her father’s death by opening her home and heart to others. Her enduring bonds with her sisters Kathleen, Delia, and cousin Delia Clancy reflected the strength and solidarity of the women who shaped her life.

Mum’s creative talents were unmatched. Mum expressed her incredible mind through knitting, crocheting, and sewing. Her sister Theresa was particularly fond of “borrowing” Mum’s clothes when they were younger, leading to playful memories. Her creations were works of love and precision, leaving behind heirlooms cherished by her family.

She found immense joy in her grandchildren, Sarah and James Cheevers and Joseph Bala, who brought out her silly, playful side in her later years.

Nuala is survived by her daughters, Maureen Bala (Raul) of Alameda, California, and Joanne Dolan (Robert Cheevers) of Wicklow, Ireland. She also leaves her sisters Kathleen Deery and Theresa Warren, brothers Stephen and Frank, her sisters-in-law Ann Spillane, Cathy Kerr, Julie Creel, Frances Cotter, and countless nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was predeceased by her husband Joseph, brothers Paddy, John, Joseph, and Chris, and sisters Maura (Sr. Gabriel), Eileen, and Delia McDonnell.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday November 20 at 10:00am at St. Agatha’s Church in Milton, Massachusetts. Visiting hours will precede the Mass from 8:45 - 9:45 at Alfred D. Thomas Funeral Home. For those unable to attend in person, the service will be live-streamed at (https://vimeo.com/event/4735607). 

Donations may be made to Saint Jude’s Children’s Hospital instead of flowers. For additional details, the guestbook, and the live-stream link, please visit www.alfreddthomas.com

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