Former Long Island Catholic school teacher Patricia Doelger dies at 72

Patricia Doelger, a longtime Catholic school teacher on Long Island, died Tuesday, Jan. 6, at her home in Kings Park. She was 72.

Doelger taught at Catholic schools across Suffolk County, including Sts. Cyril and Methodius in Deer Park, Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Lindenhurst, and Christ the King (now Holy Family Regional) in Commack.

Born in Brooklyn to Harold and Margaret Grady, Doelger graduated from St. Vincent Ferrer High School in New York City, earned a bachelor’s degree from St. John’s University, and later a master’s degree in education from Dowling College.

She was married to Paul J. Doelger for 50 years and was the mother of Christopher (Michele), Brian (Meghan) and Matthew (Andrea). She also had six grandchildren: Lily, Faith, Matthew, Olivia, Claire and Maeve. The eldest of three children, she is additionally survived by her two sisters, Mary (Ralph) DiDomenico and Margaret (Patrick) Costello.

Visitation was held Jan. 9 at Butler‑Hughes Funeral Home in Kings Park. A funeral Mass followed on Jan. 10 at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Kings Park, with interment at St. Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale.

_{Top: Patricia Doelger (Butler-Hughes Funeral Home)}