Mary (Dowdell) Illsley
Mary (Dowdell) Illsley, 46 of Chenango Forks, NY and formerly of Uniontown, PA, was united with her Lord after a long, courageous battle with cancer on Tuesday, October 13, 2009. Mary was born November 21, 1962 in Johnstown, Pa., daughter of Leroy Paul Dowdell and Lenora Grace (Mayer) Dowdell, who predeceased her, as did her niece, Ariel Dowdell.
She is survived by her husband, Thomas Illsley; and three sons: Christopher Singh, Eric Singh and Alex Singh, all of Chenango Forks, and by her siblings: Jeffrey (Janet) Dowdell, Mechanicsville, VA, Barbara Donesec, Uniontown, PA, Paula (Lawrence) Ruane, Camp Hill, PA, Timothy Dowdell, Shaun Dowdell and Adrian Dowdell, all of Uniontown, PA, Maureen Dowdell, NYC, NY and Roy (Linda) Dowdell of White Plains, NY. Mary was a member of the North Fenton United Methodist Church and a member of the American Legion Women’s Auxiliary Post 1194.
One of Mary’s passions in life was caring for others. She was an R.N. who graduated in the top of her class from Penn State and attended Fordham Law School. She was a heart transplant nurse at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan, Lourdes ER and Catskill Regional Medical Center in Callicoon. Her other passions included gardening, traveling and most of all spending time with her boys. Mary served as an angel of healing while on Earth and now serves as a guardian angel for all who knew and loved her.
A Memorial Service will be held Monday, October 19, 2009, 11 a.m. at the North Fenton United Methodist Church. Friends will be received at the church Monday beginning at 10 a.m. Those wishing, kindly consider memorial contributions to the American Cancer Society, 13 Beech Street, Johnson City, NY 13790; the American Legion Joseph P. Mangan Post 1194, P.O. Box 282, Chenango Bridge, NY 13745; or Lourdes Hospice, 4102 Old Vestal Road, Vestal, NY 13850.