Obituary of Dorothy M. Coughlin
Batavia/Elba - Dorothy M. Coughlin, 92, of Batavia/Elba, passed away on Thursday, February 21, 2019 at Highland Hospital in Rochester.
Dorothy was born October 4, 1926, in Batavia, a daughter of the late George H. and Mildred (Shuler) Coughlin.
A teacher of English, drama, speech and reading at Elba Central School for 35 years, she did gladly teach, taking pride in her students' accomplishments both in and out of school. Her tenure covered three generations in some families.
An honor graduate of D'Youville College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree, she received subsequent Masters Degrees from Canisius College and Buffalo State Teachers' College. She pursued training in reading programs from the University of Chicago and Brockport State Teachers' College.
Dorothy retired as head of the English Department of Elba Central School with specialization in reading improvement. She then became the first staff development coordinator for Genesee-Wyoming BOCES for two years organizing programs for professional staff training in the school districts. Then followed a dozen years as part time reference librarian at Genesee Community College and five years as reference librarian at Richmond Memorial Library. During this time, she became an active volunteer at St. Joseph's Church, RSVP, The Office of the Aging, Hospice and the Muriel H. Marshall Fund. Her hobbies included gardening, reading, visiting the ill and travel. Her travels included a trip to the Holy Land, Egypt, North Africa, Europe, Alaska, Hawaii and most of the mainland states.
Survivors include her nieces and nephews, Edward (Sue) Farrell of Troy, Kathleen (Steve Christo) Farrell of Virginia, Rosemary (Rick) Garde of Long Island, John (Lisa) Farrell of Highland, Barbara (Kevin) Farrell-Gallagher of Rochester, Ann Marie (Sal) Pulice of Long Island, Peter (Misa) Farrell of Maryland, Daniel (Elizabeth) Farrell of Buffalo and Suzanne Farrell of Rochester, great-nieces and great-nephews, Dmetria (Casey) Valadie, Ivan Christo, Connor Farrell, Liam Farrell, Isabel Farrell, Matthew Farrell, Lilika Farrell, Brendan Farrell, Bret Garde and Blaine Garde.
She was predeceased by her sisters, Barbara Ann Coughlin and Catherine Marie Coughlin Farrell, brother-in-law, Edward J. Farrell and a nephew Joseph Farrell.
Calling hours are Monday from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the H.E. Turner & Co. Funeral Home, 403 East Main Street, Batavia. Dorothy's Mass of Christian Burial will held at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday at the Resurrection Parish, St. Joseph's Church, 303 East Main Street, Batavia. Dorothy will be laid to rest in St. Joseph's Cemetery, Batavia.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Dorothy’s name to Resurrection Parish, 303 East Main Street, Batavia, NY 14020, HomeCare & Hospice, 29 Liberty Street, Suite 6, Batavia, NY 14020 or a charity of the donor's choice.