Mary Dowling, July 2, 1930 – August 7, 2026

Mary Dowling, a lifelong resident of Quincy, passed away peacefully in the early morning of August 7, 2026.

Born to Elizabeth (Hagerty) Maher and William O. Maher, Mary was a proud lifelong resident of Quincy. She was predeceased by her four brothers: Mike, Ralph, John, and Arthur.

Mary attended Wollaston Grammar School, where she was captain of the dodgeball team, and later St. Gregory’s Junior High in Dorchester, where she formed lifelong friendships with a group known as "the club." She graduated from Quincy High School in 1948.

Shortly after graduation, Mary met Tom Dowling. After a brief courtship, they were married on May 30, 1951, while Tom was on leave from the Army. The couple began their life together in an apartment on Old Colony Ave. Mary worked at the Granite Trust in Quincy Square before moving to work at the Prince Charles Hotel in Fayetteville, North Carolina, to be near Fort Bragg during Tom’s service.

In 1955, Mary and Tom settled at 2 Pope Street, where they raised their four children: Tommy, Michael, Beth, and Mary. She often described them as her "perfect family"—two brown-haired, brown-eyed boys and two blond, blue-eyed daughters.

For over many years, Mary was deeply involved in the Sacred Heart Church community in North Quincy, serving in the Ladies Sodality, Catholic Women’s Club, annual May Festivals, and the church bowling league. She was also a dedicated Den Mother for Den 9, Pack 27.

In the early 1970s, Mary worked at St. John’s Seminary, where she was beloved by the young seminarians; her home at 2 Pope Street became affectionately known as the "Little Vatican." In 1976, she began a career with the City of Quincy, first in the Treasurer’s office as a payroll clerk for the Police and Fire Departments, and later as an administrative secretary at the Quincy Recreation Department. She was known for her welcoming smile and encouraging words to generations of young people. Her motto “Don’t Hesitate, Recreate”

Mary retired from the city at 82, but soon began a new chapter working for her son Michael at Medicine Wheel Productions (now SPOKE). There, she was drawn to working with young women in early recovery from opioid addiction, many of whom credited her kindness and openness with saving their lives. Mary firmly believed that it was never time to pass the torch but instead chose to light new torches.

In recent years, Mary enjoyed spending winters in St. Thomas, USVI, where she was active at Holy Family Church and cherished time with her "Island Crew" at Brewers Beach.

Above all, Mary loved her family. She is survived by her children: Tom (Chris Barnes), Michael (Daniel Hurley), Elizabeth Goreham, and Mary Newcomb (Robert); nine grandchildren; and sixteen great-grandchildren, they include : Glendon Barnes: daughters Kiera and Vivian : Sarah (Goreham) Auger (Chris): daughter Brynn Elizabeth Auger : Robert Newcomb (Emily)daughters Maeve, Shea, and Annie : Rebecca (Goreham) Sharp (Heather): daughter Porter and son Cedar :Rachel (Goreham) Cappadona (Steve): sons Wyatt and Roman, daughters Anela and Lucy : Molly (Newcomb) Castillo (Francisco): son Caleb : Matthew Goreham (Cristina): son Weston : Colleen Newcomb (Diana): daughters Ryen and Stevie Jean and Megan Newcomb.

Mary is predeceased by her son-in-law, Russell Goreham. She is also survived by her dear friend Nancy Hourihan and her adventurer friend Paula Baker and countless nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to greet the family during the visiting hours on Wednesday August 12, 2026 from 4-8 PM in the Keohane Funeral Home, 785 Hancock St., QUINCY. A Celebration of Life Service will be held in the funeral home at 9:15 AM on Thursday, August 13th, 2026 prior to the Funeral Mass in Sacred Heart Church, Quincy at 10 AM. Burial in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Quincy. Donations in memory of Mary maybe made to Sacred Heart Church, 386 Hancock Street, North Quincy, MA 02171.