With extreme sadness, the family of Sarah Thomasena (Frankina) Dooley announces her death on April 13, 2023. She was born in Akron, Ohio, in 1938 to Salvatore and Rose Frankina. Following her husband to Gadsden in 1979 with his Goodyear employment, she was employed by Gadsden Regional Medical Center as the pathology secretary. She was happy in her work and enjoyed a long retirement.
She was a devout Catholic and long-time member of St. James Catholic Church where she served as a choir member for many years and as a lector. She was a member of the Catholic Women’s Sodality, serving as the Secretary and Treasurer. Despite the tragedy of being an Italian with no cooking skills, she became affectionately known as “The Salad Lady.” She was glad to find a way to help with the luncheons and socials without messing anything up! She received the Sodality’s “Angel of the Year” award, but her most prized achievement was in becoming a lay member of the Carmelite order where she grew even more in her Faith and enjoyed close relationships with her Carmelite sisters.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Lawrence Dooley, by her parents and by her siblings, an infant brother, Carrie, Joe, Jenny, Neil and Sam. She is survived by her children, Larry Dooley (Gadsden), Theresa (Craig) Gilley (Gadsden) and Michael (Erinn) Dooley (Modesto, CA). Her six grandchildren were her life’s greatest joy: Paul (Morgan) Gilley, Joseph (Jordan) Gilley, Sarah (John) Westberg, Stephen (Elizabeth) Gilley, Eileen Dooley and Michael Dooley. Great grandchildren are Hazel and Luke Westberg, Samuel Gilley, Ruthie Gilley, and coming soon, Mary Gilley. She will be greatly missed by her sister and brother-in-law, Jim and Ada Marazita (Uniontown, OH), who were very precious to her.
Her Italian heritage made her proud, but not as much as her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She wanted to be remembered as a loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother, and she most certainly is.
Visitation will be on Wednesday, April 19, at 2:00 p.m. at St. James Catholic Church with the funeral Mass to follow at 3 p.m. (the Divine Mercy Hour). Please join us to pray the rosary in the church at 1:30p before visitation begins.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to St. James Catholic School (511 Ewing Avenue, Gadsden, AL 35901) or Food for the Poor (6401 Lyons Road, Coconut Creek, FL 33073).
