Mary Clare Doran
Monday, December 21, 1936
Date of Death:
Tuesday, February 14, 2023
Age:
86 years old
Visitation
Date: Sunday February 19, 2023
Time: 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Location: River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home [ view map ]
Second Visitation
Date: Monday February 20, 2023
Time: 9:30 am
Location: St. Pius X Catholic Church [ view map ]
Mass of Christian Burial
Date: Monday February 20, 2023
Time: 10:30 am
Location: St. Pius X Catholic Church [ view map ]
Burial
Location: St. Clement Cemetery, Hammond, MN [ view map ]
Monday, December 21, 1936
Date of Death:
Tuesday, February 14, 2023
Age:
86 years old
Monday, December 21, 1936
Date of Death:
Tuesday, February 14, 2023
Age:
86 years old
Mary Clare Doran
Mary Clare Doran (also known as Mom, Grandma, Gram, Great-Grandma and Gigi) passed away Tuesday, February 14, 2023 at Mayo Clinic Hospital, St Marys Campus. She was born in Havana, Cuba on December 21, 1936 to James “Leo” Kenan and Mary Theresa (McLaughlin) Kenan. Mary Clare spent the first eight years of her life in Havana until her family moved to Pittsburgh, PA during her father’s illness and death, and subsequently to Rochester, MN.
Mary Clare attended St. John’s Catholic grade school and graduated from Lourdes High School in 1954. Following graduation Mary Clare attended the St. Mary’s School of Nursing and earned her degree as an LPN. When asked by her kids what “LPN” stood for she would answer mysteriously, “Little Pretty Nurse.” On May 5, 1956 Mary Clare married her tall, dark, and handsome high school sweetheart, Hank Doran. They enjoyed 50 years of marriage together.
Mary Clare had the ability to be laser-focused on many things, including her family, flowers, song birds and the small print in her investment prospectus. She cared for aging family members with great compassion and dedication. She delivered the same loving care to her patients on the St. Mary’s Orthopedic Rehab Unit, and when providing day care to children in her home on Cascade Street. After her kids left home, Mary Clare enjoyed a career at Mayo Clinic in Quality Review. She retired from Mayo in 1998. Mary Clare and Hank devoted a great deal of time supporting couples through Marriage Encounter, Beginning Experience, and Teams of Our Lady. After retiring, Mary Clare and Hank enjoyed trips to Alaska, Ireland, and the Southwest US but their favorite travel destination was to the cabin on Big Crawling Stone Lake in Lac du Flambeau, WI. It was there that they joined a square dance group and enjoyed ballroom dancing on Sunday afternoons at the casino. Mary Clare loved everything related to music which she passed on to her kids and grandkids. After Hanks’ passing in 2007, Mary Clare renewed friendships with “The Neighbor Ladies” and enjoyed gathering with them to play Bridge, Bunco, and eat! Mary Clare also joined the Sweet Adeline’s Chorus, and later the Lady Slipper Quartet, which brought her great joy. She spent hours practicing her singing at home, at the cabin, and while driving in the car! She truly cherished the friendships she made from these groups.
Mary Clare lived a faith-filled life and was devoted to sharing the Catholic faith with her family and many others over the years. Faith and prayer were a steady source of comfort, strength, and guidance for her. She was a founding member of St. Pius X Catholic Church in Rochester, MN.
Mary Clare is survived by her children, Theresa (Mel) Luck; Colleen (Doug) Akerley; Deberah (Frank) Keogh; and William (Sue) Doran; 10 grandchildren (Mom’s pride and joy) Jim (Tiffany Schule Manley) Luck; Eddie (Lindsay) Luck; Matt (Alicia) Luck; Thomas (Louise) Garvey; Patrick (MaryClaire) Garvey; Sean Garvey; Hank (Rachel) Kemp; Joe Kemp; Kiersten (Brandon) Inks; and Matt (Felicia) Doran; 17 great-grandchildren, Jocelyn, Adi, Liam, Bella, Crosby, Sage, Margo and Wyatt Luck; William and Madeline Garvey; Lucy, Henry, Louis, Samuel and John Kemp; Everest and Carson Inks. Brother-in-law, Thomas Greene, Boulder, CO; and brother-in-law, Wahlen J. Doran, Waupaca, Wi Nieces, Peggy (Paul) Smith; Bridget (Lance) Livingston; Cathy Doran; Mary Doran; Beth Doran; and nephews Timothy (Tana) Greene; Patrick Greene; Michael (Katherine) Greene; and James Doran.
Mary Clare is preceded in death by her husband, Henry “Hank” Doran; parents, Leo and Mary Kenan; sister, Elizabeth “Betty” Greene; and sister, Margaret “Peg” Kenan. A visitation will take place at Macken Funeral Home, River Park Chapel, on Sunday, February 19, 2023 from 3-5 p.m.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Fr. Russ Scepaniak at St. Pius X Catholic Church on Monday February 20, 2023 at 10:30 a.m., followed by a luncheon. There will be a visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial will be at St. Clement’s Cemetery in Hammond, MN. Memorials may be directed to the Lourdes Foundation’s Hank Doran/Kenan Memorial Scholarship Fund or Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL).
We will miss mom’s award-winning apple pies, delicious Christmas cookies, phone calls that started with “I’ve been thinking” or “I’ve got a list” and dated notes of instruction left on every appliance and toilet on the property. Mostly we will miss Mary Clare’s presence at our family gatherings.
May her soul and all the souls of the faithfully departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com
Condolences
The family of Mary Clare Doran has received the following condolences.
Sending my thoughts and prayers to all of the Doran family. I met Mary Clare when I worked as the Coordinator of Spiritual Care at Madonna Towers. I had put a note in the parish bulletins that I needed more volunteers to bring Communion to the residents in the skilled care unit. Mary Care volunteered! She was so faithful about being there to pray with residents. May Mary Clare Rest In Peace with the God that she loved and served….and may she sing with the angels in heaven. May God bless all of her family with many loving memories. Sister Sue Reif, OSF—Assisi Heights
Coleen & family,
We are so sorry for the loss of your Mom/grandmother.
I really enjoyed working with Mary Clare in Quality at Mayo. We are on vacation & were unable to celebrate her life in person.
Praying your hearts heal quickly.
Jerry & Ruth Boland
Coleen & family,
We are so sorry for the loss of your Mom/grandmother.
I really enjoyed working with Mary Clare in Quality at Mayo. We are on vacation & were unable to celebrate her life in person.
Praying your hearts heal quickly.
Jerry & Ruth Boland
To Deb and all the Doran kids,
I am sad to hear about the loss of your mother. Deb was my childhood best friend and I have many fond memories of the time I spent on Cascade Street. I especially remember Mary Clare’s sense of humor and her excellent baking skills. My condolences to you all.
Sara
Hello Terry, Colleen, Deb, Bill and families,
I am so sorry to hear of your mom’s passing. Jeanne and I send our deepest sympathies.
I will never forget how your mom and dad opened their home and hearts to our family. The memories of my time spent with ‘You All ‘ makes me smile. ( and a tear also; because I wish for more of those days ) We were truly blessed to have such wonderful friends.
Most of the memories I have is with my brother Tom and I , ‘escaping’ work at the Schreiner cabin to visit with our friends from Rochester, Mn and their cabin. New Years Eve always stands out as a favorite because it was Bills birthday celebration, snowmobiling, and we almost always seemed to enjoy lasagna that evening. Even when Mary Claire had us do dishes afterwards.
I am sorry I will not be able to celebrate Mary Claire’s life in person, but she is certainly not forgotten by me.
Love, Pat Schreiner
Dear Colleen and family,
My deepest sympathies goes out to all of you. It is never easy losing your beloved ones esp. your parents. May your fond memories of your mom carry you through this sad time. She will always be there for you n spirit.
Take care,
Jeannie Stewart
Mel,Terry and family,
So sorry to hear about your mother /grandma. May you find comfort and healing from above.
God bless,
The Yanke's
Blessings to the whole Doran family as you bid farewell to Mary Clare. She was a great woman who was inspiring in many ways. May she rest in peace.
Blessings to the whole Doran family as you bid farewell to Mary Clare. She was a great woman who was inspiring in many ways. May she rest in peace.
Blessings to the whole Doran family as you bid farewell to Mary Clare. She was a great woman who was inspiring in many ways. May she rest in peace.
I remember Mary and Hank would be at all of our basketball games. Mary was very, very friendly and kind. I'm extremely sorry for your loss.
Mary had to be an ANGEL--she had that great smile and was a joy to know. She had recently been at our house and was making such great progress with the operation she had recently had, she didnt need my help getting up and down the stairs but i gave her help any way. After about 3 hours of cards she wander in to where I was watching TV and we had a great chat. I am very thankful for that. She was leaving our home with a planned uber ride to Chorus practice. She had used the phone to set up her Uber ride and I eagerly was able to show her some simple things she might do to help with her Uber rides. Some how her Uber ride fell through and I volunteered to drive her to chorus practice. We had some great conversation on the ride to the church. I am very thankful I had that precious time with her. My prayers are for her and family and friends. there will be an empty chair when the girls play cards. Thank you MARY and may GOD BLESS and KEEP you. You are a KEEPER. Robert & Judy Adams Rochester Minnesota. Feb 17 2023
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time. We had the honor of living next to Hank and Mary Clare early in our marriage and they were both incredibly supportive and caring neighbors. Besides the fun chats we had I will always remember being surprised to find 'Welcome baby' balloons tied to our back door when we brought our baby home from the hospital. Mary Clare had been asking for us to give her a little sign when I went into labor so we left the porch light on as we headed to the hospital- when we returned to find the balloons we could also see Hank and Mary Clare peeking out the window next door. May you treasure the memories and never forget the impact they both had on anyone they met.
I'm so sorry for your loss, and ours, and mine. Mary Clare was such a dear friend who brought joy wherever she went. Her laugh was contagious. She was a good listener and always had good advice. She loved singing at the nursing homes and at the high schools. I loved how all eyes always went to Mary Clare because of her expressive face and deep bass voice. She loved her big family and always had a good story to tell. I'm sure her reunion with Hank was a joyful one.
Mary Clare was a huge part of chorus , and I loved riding in the car every week. every time I see a bald eagle I will think of her. ♡