Colleen M. Dooley

Dooley, Colleen Mary (née Neaton) passed away peacefully on August 20, 2023, at the age of 74. Colleen was born in Watertown, Minnesota in 1948, to Joseph and Genevieve Neaton as the oldest of their three children. Her initial defining characteristic was her incredibly sharp mind. But as she grew, Colleen revealed a capacity for selflessness that surpassed even her intelligence. In her early teens, she quietly took on the role of caregiver for her family and was known first and foremost for her love and support of others. Colleen graduated from Holy Trinity School in Winsted, Minnesota in 1966, received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota in 1970, and completed medical school at the University of Minnesota in 1974–all with top honors.

Colleen married Daniel Dooley in 1973, and the two remained together for the rest of her life. Shortly after completing her medical internship, Colleen welcomed her sons, Matthew and Mark, into her family. Having already shown her traits of intelligence and selflessness throughout her life, Colleen developed a third defining characteristic with the help of her sons: a bottomless well of patience.

While caring for her family, Colleen somehow found the time and energy to establish a successful medical practice, lead multiple hospital committees, and serve as the Chief of the Pediatric Department for Integris Health in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Her partners knew her for her work ethic and knowledge; the tens of thousands of families she served knew her for her compassion and commitment to patient care.

Although Colleen loved medicine, she finally curtailed her practice when something better came into her life: her four grandchildren. Colleen lit up when talking about her grandchildren and was ready to drop everything to come and see them whenever she could. They were her source of endless joy and pride.

Colleen was giving and caring to the end. Even in her final days, she made sure that everyone around her had what they needed, that she had taken care of every task she could complete for others’ benefit, and that her grandchildren got enough ice cream. Colleen was at peace, bolstered by her strong faith, and she said that she had completed everything in her life that she set out to do. She traveled the world, raised her family, and returned to her home state of Minnesota in her final months where she was surrounded by love, old friends, and family. Colleen is survived by her husband (Daniel), two sons (Matthew and Mark), two daughters-in-law (Susan and Michelle), four grandchildren (Caroline, Theodore, Hazel, and Laurel), and more people who loved her and were touched by her care and humor than can be counted.

A visitation will be held at Gearty-Delmore Funeral Chapel, 3960 Wooddale Ave. S., in St. Louis Park, Minnesota on Thursday, August 24th from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. with a rosary service at 6:30 p.m. Funeral services will be held at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Community, 4537 3rd Ave S., in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Friday, August 25th with a visitation at 3:30 p.m., Mass at 4:00 p.m., and refreshments to follow. In lieu of flowers, Colleen requests that you enjoy a glass of wine, maybe two, read a good book, or leave a donation to the Minnesota Medical Association, mnmed.org.

Link to livestream service: https://youtube.com/live/XiEoNIgi7zM