DOROTHY DONNELLY Obituary

Dorothy ( Dody ) Donnelly Our beloved Dody passed away peacefully on April 6, 2013 in San Rafael, CA with her niece Jill at her side. Dody was born July 29, 1920 in San Francisco to Joseph Donnelly and Julia O'Sullivan of Ireland. Dody joined the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange immediately after high school. She taught for many years in Orange at the high school and grammar school level. She went on to earn two PhD's in Classics and Theology. She then taught at St Joseph College, Orange and the Catholic University, Wash. DC. Later in life she left the Sisters and set up " shop" in her beloved Berkeley, where she taught for many years at GTU, Sophia Center and the Fromm Institute. She was the cherished sister of Muriel Moore, Joseph Donnelly, Jeanne Carey, Mary Lou Cummins and Rose Donnelly (Mother Julie Marie O.S.U.), sister-in-law Geraldine Donnelly and brother-in-law Thomas Moore. She is also survived by her nephews Michael Donnelly, TJ Moore, Robert Moore and Kevin Moore and her two nieces Anne Moore and Jill Donnelly. Dody was an intellectually brilliant woman who made a lasting impression on hundreds of students throughout the years. She also was a gifted spiritual advisor who changed peoples' lives on a regular basis. Most of all, however, she will be remembered for her wisdom, her compassion, her unique sense of humor and for never settling for the road most traveled. There will be a memorial Mass for Dody on Friday, May 10 at 10.30 AM at the McLean Chapel on the campus of Holy Names University, 3500 Mountain Blvd. Oakland. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Amnesty International www.amnestyusa.org

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Marin Independent Journal on Apr. 21, 2013.

Memories and Condolences
for DOROTHY DONNELLY

Sponsored by anonymous.

13 Entries

Joseph Hickey-Tiernan

September 14, 2013

I want to honor her memory and that of a man, who also died recently, who introduced me to her in 1972. She was his spiritual director, and in an afternoon I spent with her at that time I experienced the wholesomeness that was preparing him for his life's work. He became known as both an advocate for Peace and a person who could make Peace present for others. To me, Dode's gift was the ability to make Wisdom palpable, desirable, and personal. Advocacy so often has a sunburn of anger around it; her reaching out had the disarming glow of sunrise. For many, it always will.

Maridee Broadfoot

May 7, 2013

Knowing Dody, being her student, sharing the sacred ground of "anam cara," is an ongoing, treasured experience. The brilliant light of her mind and heart continues to influence my life, and blossom with such blessing. All love and deep gratitude for her extraordinary presence in all of our lives.

Andrew Metcalfe

May 6, 2013

It was an honor and pleasure to know you dear friend. You changed my life for the better.

Denise Collins

May 5, 2013

Thank you, dear Dody, for your vibrant teaching of me in high school, and my mom, Ann, at Fromm.

April 30, 2013

Dody was a courageous and committed pioneer of women in theology. We will be ever in her debt. May she live forever in the glory of the Resurrection.
Sandra Schneiders, ihm

Mary E. Hunt

April 30, 2013

Dody was a wonderful professor and a stalwart colleague at the GTU in Berkeley. She was ahead of her time in her wide vision and her deep sense of our collective spirit. I am pleased to have known her.

Manny & Debby Nosowsky

April 26, 2013

Our dear, wonderful, exhuberant, loving, witty, Dody, gone from us but not the world. We are bereft of your presence, but you are on to the next thing which you have surely embraced as you did all human experience.

April 26, 2013

What a beautiful soul she was, always teaching and inspiring others. God bless her on her way to the Light. "Ke aloha menemene" (with heartfelt condolences) to Dody's family and many friends,

Deborah LaFond

April 25, 2013

Dearest Dody,

We are always together! So sorry I missed saying goodbye by a few days! I love you and will hold you and all your loving work in my heart forever!
Yours, Deb

Rosemary Ellmer

April 25, 2013

To our wonderful Dodes--May you continue to mentor and nurture all of us women whom you enlivened and empowered with your deep appreciation of the theology of the gifts.
Rest well in the arms of God/ess and send us your empowered energy and guidance!

Sandy Cabraser

April 25, 2013

Bye bye to a lovely woman..

Lynne White

April 24, 2013

To my Beloved Dodes--
You filled the world of our minds and hearts, made larger by your presence and now bereft without you here. We can only imagine how YOUR WORLD is now infinitely expanded, "from Glory to Glory" and we bid you Godspeed, Dearest One ---
Yours ever
Lynne

Rose Wakeman

April 20, 2013

She is/was so very beloved. May the One who holds us all hold you closer in your loss. She was my guide for many years and for that I thank God.

Showing 1 - 13 of 13 results