LALLY, Dorothy Marie With great sadness, we announce the passing of Dorothy Marie Lally, age 97, on April 18, 2025, at Bridges by Epoch in Lexington, MA. Dorothy was a longtime resident of Arlington, MA. Her home was nestled on the hill overlooking Robbins Farm and Brackett School. She enjoyed watching the activity from her home, keeping her young in spirit. A leader and champion of early reading programs for the state of Massachusetts, Dorothy Lally began her teaching career in 1950 in Somerville, Massachusetts and progressed to become the Director of Remedial Reading in 1962 and then the Director of Reading for grades K-12 in 1972. A founding member of the Massachusetts Reading Association and past president of the Greater Boston Reading Council, she was influential in legislative efforts supporting reading and education, notably serving as chairman of the Massachusetts legislative committee on reading in 1984. During the Dukakis years, she championed early preschool education. In recognition of her contributions, she received the 1991 Celebrate Literacy Award from the Greater Boston Council of the International Reading Association, which was given to recognize individuals who have made significant literacy contributions to their community. Dorothy graduated from the Academy of Notre Dame in Tyngsboro, MA, earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Emmanuel College and obtained a master's in education from Boston University. An avid gardener and Lexington Field and Garden club member, she received her master gardener credentials in her 80s. A parishioner of St. Camillus Church, her faith kept her grounded as she was fiercely independent and humble, she lived her life with a positive purpose: to serve others. Dorothy touched so many lives with her kind and caring words. Her sound and exceptionally perceptive advice will be greatly missed by all who loved her, forever a teacher inside and outside the classroom. Dorothy often said, "Make a list," "Be good to yourself," and "relax." Towards the end of her life, her only wish was to be reunited with her parents. Dorothy formed close and cherished friendships with Mary Niles, James Lamphier, Anne Matthews, Gail Irish, Jeanne Benton, their partners and families, Julie and Chris Hall's family and her dear friends, Larry and Jackie, all of whom became Dorothy's devoted family. Visiting Hours will be held at the Keefe Funeral Home, 5 Chestnut St., ARLINGTON, Friday, May 2, from 10:30AM to 11:30AM. Followed by a Funeral Mass celebrated in St. Agnes Church, 51 Medford St., Arlington, at 12:00PM. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Services will conclude with Burial at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Arlington. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Arlington Boys & Girls Club, 60 Pond Lane, Arlington, MA 02474.

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Published by Boston Globe from Apr. 23 to Apr. 27, 2025.

Memories and Condolences
for DOROTHY LALLY

1 Entry

Frederique Donovan

April 27, 2025

Dorothy was my beautiful neighbor and friend. When I arrived in my new home on 44 Fayette st, we immediately bonded. We would share gardening advice, talk about our teaching jobs, our love for kids. She was like a grandmother to my children, always happy to come in for tea, to stop for a chat. She always had a positive attitude, cheering me up when I was discouraged or tired. We taught each other our language: she corrected my pronunciation and taught me English colloquial expressions like "you are the apple of my eyes" . She laugt and advised me to say it to my husband as often as I could. She always wanted me to be very nice to Kevin. When we were going to Costco together, it was taking hours because she would say a nice comment to everyone in the store. People were always smiling at her. I was so lucky to have her as a neighbor for so many years. She came to so many events in our house: christmas parties, birthdays, Thanksgiving when she was too tired to go to Jeannie. All my friends loved her and always asked how she was doing. At Halloween, kids would come to her house and receive an apple because "they already had too many candies..." Just telling you all these memories makes me smile. I was so devastated when she had to move into a nursing home and then later when I moved back to Europe, five years ago. I came back to say "hello" three times. The last time I am not quite sure she recognized me but she pretended she did and give me more of her positive advice. I will miss her, miss the possibility to see her again but I am confident she is in a better place because she believed in it . Rest in peace, Dorothy. I truly miss you already

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