Dolores Donovan

Dolores Ann Donovan, 85, of Boise, ID passed away peacefully on Friday, March 30, 2018 at home surrounded by family.

Dolores was born in Ponca City, Oklahoma to Martin T. Carey and Delberta F. (Clark) Carey on June 12, 1932. As an only child, she was treasured by her parents. Although both her parents’ families lived in Denver, her father’s employment with Continental Oil took him and his wife to the oil fields of Oklahoma, if only briefly. By age 3, the family moved to Salt Lake City, where Dolores spent the remainder of her childhood.

Dolores graduated from Judge Memorial High School as Valedictorian for the class of 1950. She graduated from St. Mary-of-the-Wasatch in Salt Lake City with a degree in Medical Technology/Bacteriology in 1954. During her high school and college years, she performed in a number of drama productions and was involved in parish and school social activities.

Dolores moved to Boise to work as a medical technologist at St. Alphonsus Hospital. Like so many other Boise Catholics, she met her future husband, Robert (Bob) Donovan through the St. Francis Cabrini Club. They married in 1956 at St. John’s Cathedral and then moved to Seattle, where Bob studied engineering at Seattle University while Dolores worked at the Veteran’s Hospital.

Their first child was born in 1957 and from that point on; Dolores devoted her life, energy and talents, to raising her children. Her family returned to Boise before the birth of their second child and remained there since. They had 8 children in the span of 14 years (1957-1972). They lived on the Boise Bench, belonged to Sacred Heart Parish and eventually cared for their aging parents who also lived in the area. Bob and Dolores provided an environment for their children to flourish; becoming strong and independent individuals who valued education. Their children have gone on to raise strong and independent children of their own.

As a family, Bob and Dolores provided many recreational opportunities including weekend camping trips to the Stanley basin, Yellowstone, and the Oregon coast. Dolores and Bob would pack up the large yellow canvas tent, pile kids’ clothes and gear into a homemade chest, and off they went. In later years, Bob and Dolores spent many a weekend watching and cheering on their children at various sporting events.

When their youngest child started school, Dolores embarked on a new career as a Special Education teacher. She graduated from Boise State University in 1982 with a teaching credential in Biological Science, Chemistry and Special Education. She was eager to begin her teaching career. She worked as a Special Education teacher at East and Les Bois Junior High until her retirement in 1999. Aside from her devotion to her family, Dolores found great personal fulfillment and joy in teaching students; especially those that were struggling or at risk.

Dolores’ retirement years were enriched by the presence of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was always surrounded by her family, which she cherished.

Dolores enjoyed traveling, reading and solving crossword and jigsaw puzzles. She traveled to Ireland, Turkey, Italy, Germany and across the United States. She attended her children’s and grandchildren’s weddings and graduations all across the country. Even with all her travels, Dolores saw herself as a daughter of Ireland, as many of her ancestors were Irish Catholic immigrants. This past spring, she made a final trip to Ireland to visit graves, homes, bridges and churches of her ancestors and met a relative still living in Derry (Catholic Londonderry).

Dolores lived a fulfilling life, but her most cherished accomplishment always revolved around caring for the little ones, her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and the children of others including her students. Wherever she was, if a child was nearby, she would playfully interact with them and monitor them from afar…likely a habit from raising her own 8 children. She had a love for animals of all kinds and would willingly accept any stray that was brought home by her kids or grandkids. She enjoyed daily walks with her dogs in the neighborhood, feeding the ducks and squirrels in her front yard, following world events and politics, and taking trips to the library and zoo with her grandchildren. From her childhood, she always had a little dog as a pet right up until the end of her life, which she spent devoted to her little dog Lucy.

Dolores was preceded in death by her parents, Martin Carey and Delberta (Clark) Carey, and her husband, Robert J. Donovan (1997). She is survived by her 8 children: Sheila (Douglas) Kries of Moses Lake, WA, Robyn (Kevin) Garrison of Federal Way, WA, Debbie Donovan of Boise, Teresa (David) Hoeger of Yakima, WA, Charles Donovan of Boise, Michael (Jody) Donovan of Burlingame, CA, Mary (Joe) Anderson of Boise, and Kathleen Donovan of Boise. She is also survived by 14 grandchildren: Chris (Keri) Perry, Alex (Annie) Perry-Moseanko, Mary Beth (Steve) Garbitelli, Matthew Kries, David (Sarah) Kries, Sarah Kries, Morgan Anderson, Connor Anderson, Amanda (Jovany) Trujillo, Kyle Donovan, Ava Hoeger, Ruby Hoeger, Jacob Donovan, and Milly Donovan and 9 great grandchildren: Daniel, Andrew, Lucy and Rose Garbitelli; Langston and Eamon Perry; Aaron, Jovany and Lexi Trujillo. She is also survived by numerous cousins.

A Rosary will be recited on Thursday, April 12th at 6:00 p.m. and Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, April 13th, at 11:00 a.m. both at Sacred Heart Church, 811 S Latah, Boise, Idaho. Following a reception at the Church a graveside burial will be held at Morris Hill Cemetery in Boise. In lieu of flowers the family suggests a donation to Zoo Boise in Dolores’ name. Dolores’ family would like to thank the numerous people who made a difference in her life!