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Dolores Townley

March 2, 1931 ~ March 2, 2024

Posted 3/8/24

Dolores Frohbose Townley, age 93, of Circleville died on March 2, 2024. Born March 2, 1931 to Mary (Harrison) and Ignatius Frohbose in Brooklyn, NY, she was the 4th of 5 children.

Dolores and …

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Dolores Townley

March 2, 1931 ~ March 2, 2024

Posted

Dolores Frohbose Townley, age 93, of Circleville died on March 2, 2024. Born March 2, 1931 to Mary (Harrison) and Ignatius Frohbose in Brooklyn, NY, she was the 4th of 5 children.

Dolores and her family moved from Brooklyn to Circleville in 1947. She began attending St. Paul’s RC Church in Bullville, where she was a member of the choir for many years. Dolores often sang solos at Midnight Mass, as well as at weddings and funerals. It was often said that many people were matched or dispatched with her beautiful rendition of the Ave Maria ringing in their ears. She was also a Eucharistic Minister and a member of the Third Order of Carmelites and St. Paul’s Confraternity. It was also at church that she met her future husband, John Townley.

Dolores married John on June 26th, 1948, after a courtship spent riding around on his motorcycle. They settled in Circleville where they raised their 7 children. Over the years, they also had several foster children.

Dolores participated in the “Moms and Pops” shows at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Elementary School, where her children attended. She also spent time volunteering there as a sewing instructor and an assistant on Bingo night.

Dolores worked for the US Postal Service for 30 years; first as a clerk for her sister-in-law, Helen Bell, and when Helen retired, Dolores became the postmaster in Bullville.

Dolores is survived by her children, Kevin (Nancy) of Niwot, CO, Christopher (Leslie) of Brooklyn, NY, Maggie Baxter (George) of Liberty, NY, Martin (Cathleen) of Middletown, NY, Mary Ley (John) of Oregon, IL, Susan of Longmont, CO, and daughter-in-law Macky Townley of Queens, NY. She is further survived by her grandchildren Rebecca Townley, Kevin Townley, Jr (Raoul), Sean Townley, Julian Townley, Megan Joynt (Greg), Matthew Baxter (Elizabeth), Katelyn Baxter (John), Katherine Townley, Erin Townley, Martin Townley, Jennifer Rager, Christopher Ley (Kristina), Sr. Mary Joseph Ley, and Marie Therese Ley. Dolores is also survived by 8 great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, as well as her brother, Deacon John Frohbose of Circleville and her sister, Ann Bollmann of Poughkeepsie, NY. She was predeceased by her parents, her husband, John C.C. Townley, her son John C. Townley, and her sisters Marie Smedes and Margaret (Peg) Forman.

A special thanks goes to her daughter and son-in-law, Maggie and George Baxter, and her sister, Ann Bollmann, who continually took care of her many needs over the years. Thanks also go out to friends, Judy and Joe Violante, Cathy Olsen, Mary and Mike McCabe, Liz and Carl Locatelli, Patsy Willard, and Anna and Ken Cesca.

Visitation will be from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm on March 12th at Applebee-McPhillips Funeral Home in Middletown, NY. Rosary will be recited at 7 pm. Mass of the Christian Burial will be held at St. Paul RC Church, Bullville on March 13th at 10:00 am. Burial will take place at St. Joseph Cemetery in Middletown directly following the Mass.