Obituary of Dolores G. Conway

CONWAY, Dolores (“Dee”) Gilhooly passed away peacefully at her home in Quogue, NY on September 11, 2016. She was 87. Dee was born on May 9, 1929 to the late James Thomas Gilhooly and Cecilia Beechinor Gilhooly. She grew up in Rego Park, Queens and graduated first in her class from Dominican Commercial High School in 1947. Dee met the love of her life on a blind date, and she dated Jim Conway while he was at Holy Cross and Fordham Law School. Dee and Jim were married on November 7, 1953 and were married 53 years when Jim passed away in 2007. Although Dee never had the opportunity to attend college, she instilled a commitment to education and hard work in her five children, who earned five college and five graduate degrees. She deserved at least an honorary degree, as she tirelessly corrected homework, taught vocabulary and multiplication tables with flash cards, typed term papers and college applications and shuttled her busy family to and from school and athletic events. Dee raised her family in Manhasset, NY and later lived in Quogue, NY and North Palm Beach, FL. Dee Conway was an avid reader throughout her life and read for hours right up until her final days. Not just a bookworm, she loved to have fun with her family and friends, and was on the dance floor this past year at a grandchild’s wedding. The Conway home was open to many of her children’s friends and friends of friends, and she was often greeted by a “Hey Mrs. C!” by friends stopping by, even when the Conway children were not at home. Dee Conway enjoyed remarkable relationships with her 19 grandchildren, who called her “Little Dee” with great love, respect and affection, and loved the size of her enormous heart. Her grandchildren would visit her regularly during the summer and during their breaks from school or work. Little Dee was a grandmother who was online and on the phone at all hours talking with grandchildren of all ages. Dee loved the spouses of her sons and daughters as her own children, and they thought of her as their mother. Even in her final hours, Little Dee continued to ask about the activities and lives of her grandchildren and entertained a stream of her loved ones at her bedside. Dee Conway was a generous supporter of many charities, usually in a quiet way, and in particular to organizations devoted to young children, the disadvantaged or educational causes. Dee is predeceased by her parents, her husband, her sister Marion Gilhooly and her brother Jack Gilhooly. She is survived by her five children, James Conway and his wife Diana of Garden City, NY, Susan Petrelli and her husband Joe of Harrison, NY, Kevin Conway and his wife Dee of Plandome, NY, Brian Conway and his wife Karen of Boston, MA, and Traci Clinton and her husband Matthew of Plandome Manor, NY. Dee is also survived by 19 grandchildren, one great grandson and many nieces and nephews. A wake will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Fairchild & Sons Funeral Chapel, 1570 Northern Boulevard, Manhasset, NY on Friday, September 16, 2016. A funeral Mass will be held on Saturday September 17, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church, 1300 Northern Boulevard, Manhasset. The family will hold a private burial service. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the St. Francis Hospital Foundation, 100 Port Washington Boulevard, Roslyn, NY 11576 in memory of Dee Conway.