Dorothy Conroy

Dorothy Francis Conroy was an incredible wife and mother with a strong will and compassion for life. Her greatest treasure in life was her husband and family. After spending her lifetime, of 84 years, making memories with family and friends, she passed peacefully at home on March 20, 2021 after a battle with breast cancer. On that day, she reunited with her husband Don (of 62 years) in heaven exactly two years, to the day, since his passing on March 20, 2019. Dottie was born in Plymouth, Massachusetts on September 17, 1936 to Fred and Marion Reggiani. She was the sister of Ellen, Alfred and Marion (Tinky). She met her husband Don in Hyannis, Massachusetts while he was stationed on the east coast as a sailor in the Navy. Their love story began pretty magically....long story short, four girls from Plymouth, MA had a dead car battery, four Navy guys pulled up to help them and three of the four couples in the cars ended up getting married and the Conroys, Fisks and Johnsons spent the rest of their lives making memories together. Don and Dottie stayed in Massachusetts for a couple of years after they were married there on May 5, 1956. During that time they had two children (Dave and Rick). In February of 1959, they moved back to Don's roots where they settled in Darlington, WI. There they had three more children (Cathy, Karen and Carol). During their younger years, Don and Dottie loved spending time at the cabin and traveling everywhere with her husband Don, especially driving back home to the east coast. One of her childhood loves was riding horses. She also had a love for music and playing the piano. Dottie drove a school bus for Al's Trucking for 22 years. As they grew older, family and friends continued to be the center of their lives. If there was a deck of cards and four people, it was only a matter of minutes until Dottie was working to orchestrate a game of euchre. She would play for hours and you'd sense her disappointment when the first person said they were done and going to bed, it didn't matter if it was midnight. She was never ready to be finished. There was always time for one more game....which meant you might as well freshen up your cocktail too. Grandma was known for her ability to cook the most delicious Italian food. She never used a recipe....she just threw in a little of this and a lot of that. She loved to watch birds and tend to her herbs and flowers, she especially loved the spring of the year to see her tulips and daffodils come back. Dottie was one of (if not the most) frank people you may ever meet. She wasn't always so eloquent with her words....she said it like she saw it and you may not have always agreed, but her heart for her family and friends made up for that. She did everything she could to turn every holiday or special event into moments to have her family together. She didn't care where the get together was, all she cared was that her people were there. She was sure to have a few decks of cards and her bag (it was actually a blue thermos cooler) full of money with her at all times.If you ever had the pleasure of visiting Don and Dottie's home on Mary Street, it was evident that they weren't fancy people. They found riches in less material things, primarily the time they spent with others and the joy of welcoming them into their home, which was filled with tremendous love, incredible food and laughter. As those that were fortunate enough to call Dottie their mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, great grandmother or friend are celebrating her life here on Earth and shedding some tears because she will be missed so much, we are also so grateful that she is leaving our hearts so incredibly full of her amazing love and memories to cherish forever. Survivors include her five children, Dave (Janet) Conroy of Janesville, WI, Rick (Karen) Conroy of Stoughton, WI, Cathy (Ken) Colden of New Glarus, WI, Karen Swintek of Port Orange, FL and Carol Thirsk of Santa Fe, NM; seven grandchildren Shanna (Andy), Catie (Justin), Joseph, Taylor, Andrew, Evan, Mykala (Danny) and two very special great-grandchildren, Hudson and Iyla. Dottie is also survived by one sister, Marion "Tinky" (Bob) Faelten, one brother, Alfred (Elaine) Reggiani three special nephews, Billy, Jimmy and George Drew and many other extended family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband (Don), sister (Ellen) and son-in-law (Roland). Dottie's family would like to extend their gratitude to the staff and nurses from Upland Hills Hospice for their exceptional comfort and care, as well as all of those that visited and shared their love with her and her family at home during her final days. A visitation for family and friends will be held on Thursday, March 25, 2021 from 3:30 P.M. until 6:30 P.M. followed by a Memorial Mass at Holy Rosary Catholic Church (104 E. Harriet St., Darlington WI 53530) with Rev. Joji Reddy officiating. There will be a private family burial at Holy Rosary Cemetery on Friday. The Erickson Funeral Home in Darlington is serving the family. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.ericksonfuneralhome.com.