Bridget Marie Loftus

Bridget Marie Loftus

Bridget Marie Loftus, mother of longtime New Canaan resident Nancy Loftus Joyce, passed away at age 97 on Feb 11, 2015, in Los Gatos, California, after a courageous eight-year battle with cancer

Known as Marie to her family and friends, she was born Sept 22, 1917, in Chicago, IL to William and Catherine (O'Brien) Doheny, who had both emigrated from Ireland She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard J "Dick" Loftus and her brothers, James and Luke Doheny

Marie and Dick married in 1943, and they spent the next 37 years living in Detroit, Mich They moved to San Jose, Calif in 1980, to be nearer to their family In 1986, they built a house at the Ridgemark Golf Club in Hollister, Calif and resided there for the remainder of their lives

Marie is survived by her four children, William J (wife Betty) Loftus of Gold River, Calif, the Honorable Richard J (wife Karen) Loftus, Jr of San Jose, Calif, Thomas P (wife Mary Anne) Loftus of New York City, NY, and Nancy M (husband James) Joyce of New Canaan, plus eleven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren Her granddaughters Megan Joyce and Molly Joyce are New Canaan residents

In addition to raising her family, Marie worked as an administrator at Saint Mary's High School in Detroit She was active in bridge, bowling and golf leagues in both Michigan and California Marie was also a frequent visitor to New Canaan

A Mass and Memorial Service were held on Feb 16, 2015, at Immaculate Conception Church in Tres Pinos, Calif

The family requests that donations be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society, in lieu of flowers

- the Advertiser