ANNE FRANCES DORAN

Anne Frances Doran (nee Boyle), 86, a longtime resident of Ridgewood, NY died in the early morning hours of Sunday, May 28, 2023, in Virginia Beach, VA. In stark contrast to her usual demeanor, she passed away quietly after a rapid decline in health. Anne was born on February 8, 1937, in Brooklyn NY. She was the second daughter of the late Mary and John Boyle, both of whom emigrated from Ireland in the early 1900’s making Anne a “Narrowback”, and proud of it as she often said. Her father fought for the Irish Republican Army in the Irish War of Independence. He was captured by the British at one point and allegedly escaped by tunneling out of the prison. We double any of this is true, but Anne never let the truth get in the way of a good story, so neither will we. She graduated from Our Lady of Good Counsel School and St. Joseph’s High School. She married the late John Doran, Sr. on November 23, 1963, the day after John Kennedy died, proving 55 years of happiness can follow tragedy. She was an active and longtime parishioner of OUr lady of Miraculous Medal in Ridgewood, NY. She volunteered in many roles for both the parish and school: working in the money room for the long-0ago bazaars, serving as one of “Mirac’s” very first Extraordinary Ministers, working bingo, holding office on the Home and School Board, and counting the Sunday collection money. Outside of church, Anne drove the ambulance for the Ridgewood Volunteer Ambulance Corps. In later years she became an avid bowler. As octogenarians, Anne and John relocated to a retirement home in Virginia Beach to live closer to one of their daughters and most of their grandchildren. John passed away in their first year of living in Virginia Beach, but fortunately Anne was already well connected with fellow residents and involved in community activities. The last few years of her life were good and happy with her friends at Harmony and grandchildren nearby. Anne was a regular at the 11 o’clock Mass at St. John the Apostle in Virginia Beach, VA. She always tried to give herself and other nicknames that never quite stuck. One that did and gave her the most joy was “Granny”. She was excited to become “Great Granny” later this year and guilted her grandson into telling her the yet unanswered questions “boy or girl?” on her deathbed (literally). She was a brash, loud and wonderful red-head. Yes, her hair was red until the end. She had no problem telling anyone – and we do mean anyone – what she thought of them. We would list all the things that made her cry, but do not have the space because she cried easily and frequently. She was a loving and tough mother. As her late husband wrote of her, “there was no ‘wait until your father gets home’. Discipline was strict and immediate.”  Her children were the better for it. She had a penchant for ingratiating herself into people’s lives asking many questions about families, births, celebrations, and setbacks (that is, she was nosy). She wrote $25 checks to every charitable organization that asked for money. She genuinely cared for others. Anne is survived by two of her three children – Stephanie Finocchio and her husband Chris, John Doran Jr. and his wife Amanda; as well as her six grandchildren Chris James and his wife Katrina, Nicole, David and Veronica Finocchio and Sara and Johnny Doran; her sister-in-law Frannie Combe; and her nieces Maureen Palumbo and Catherine Graham Robinson, and Regina Raicovi. Her oldest child Susan died tragically and unexpectedly in March 2022. Susan’s death devastated Anne and she is undoubtedly happy to be with her again. Anne will be waked at Hess-Miller Funeral Home in Middle Village, NY on Sunday, June 4th from 2-5pm and 7-9pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Our Lady of Miraculous Medal in Ridgewood, NY on Monday, June 5 at 10:30am followed by interment at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Flushing, NY, where she will be laid to rest beside her husband John, daughter Susan, parents, sister and brother-in-law. Blue Bloods lost a loyal viewer when Anne died, and we all lost a beloved mother, aunt, and friend. Rest in peace Mama Bear.