Dolly Dowd

Published 12:00 am Monday, June 9, 2008

Dolly Mae (Owens) Dowd passed away unexpectedly on June 6, 2008 at her home in Austin. Even at the age of 92, she was young at heart and living independently.
Dolly was born April 12, 1916 in Butternut Valley, Minn., to Edward and Hattie (Davis) Owens. She grew up in the Lake Crystal area. After graduating from high school, she worked briefly in Rochester for a physician’s family before marrying Chester Michael Dowd on Nov. 10, 1937. Together, they raised two sons and four daughters on a family farm south of Austin. Early in their marriage, they were also co-owners of Dowd’s Square Deal Motors and a paint shop. After Chester died in 1968, Dolly worked as a Home Health Aide with Mower County and maintained the farm.
Dolly was a loving and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother; she always made family her top priority. She considered raising her six children to be her greatest of many accomplishments.
Dolly was a long-time, active member of Queen of Angels church and a devout Catholic who reached out to others. She liked volunteer work and especially enjoyed being a caller with the Mower County Senior Advocacy Program. She was also a member of the Mother Cabrini unit, Senior Citizen Center, Women’s Auxiliary of the Eagles and the Sterling Silver Club. She gave talks in area schools about her Welsh ancestry. Dolly was also known for her poetry and cake decorating talents. Other interests included keeping up with her grandchildren’s activities, gardening, feeding birds, sewing, making cards, ballroom dancing and painting. Dolly will long be remembered for her warmth, strong Christian faith, creativity, intelligence and sense of humor. Her loss will be deeply felt by all, but particularly by her family who loves her dearly.
Dolly is survived by her sons, Michael Dowd, Austin; Phillip (Cheryle) Dowd, Austin; daughters, Patricia (Larry) Kiel, Faribault; Teresa Dowd, Jackson; Mary Dowd, Mankato; 14 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; sister, Alvina (Elwood) Guanella, Alden; many nephews and nieces.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Chester; daughter, Rose Ann (Dowd) Prizler; daughter-in-law, Shirlee (Michael) Dowd; great-grandson, Michael Dowd; two brothers and two sisters.
A funeral mass will be celebrated at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 at Queen of Angels Catholic Church with Father Dale Tupper officiating. There will be a 5 p.m. CCW rosary and a 7 p.m. wake service on Tuesday at Mayer Funeral Home where friends may call from 5-8 p.m. and also from 12-1 p.m. on Wednesday. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery.