Dorothy Hawley

Dorothy (Dottie) Finnegan Hawley, 84, of Appleton, WI, died on February 2, 2024.  She was born in Appleton in 1939, and graduated in, what she termed, the 3 useless majors, from UW-Madison.  She married a Naval Chaplain and raised 2 daughters while moving between states and countries with the Navy every 2 years for 20 years, until settling back in Appleton, at her youngest daughter’s request.  Dottie will always be remembered for her boisterous laughter, her sassy humor, her incredible cooking, her council for young women, and her Bridge playing.  She traveled the world fearlessly, revered individuals’ political rights and beliefs, even when contradictory to her own.  She loved jewelry from Earth’s Resources almost as much as classical music, and she “never met a bad bottle of wine!” While she never condoned her children blasting rock music from the stereo, you could always hear the Sunday opera 3 blocks away.  Upon returning to Appleton in 1981, Dottie taught International Cooking and Oriental Cuisine at the Fox Valley Technical College.  She ran her own catering business, played viola for the Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra, and passionately worked for Planned Parenthood.  She was often fired up for the Packers and Badger games on TV.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Evelyn (Shattuck) Finnegan, her namesake aunt, Dorothy (Shattuck) and Francis Bloomer, and her “English Sisters” Rosemarie Worcester and Catherine Gallen.

She is survived by her oldest daughter, Barbara (Denis) Kennedy and grandsons, Conor and Aidan, youngest daughter Sarah (Brian) Worcester and grandchildren Victoria Worcester (Jake Krueger) and Sean Worcester, Her brother Michael (Barbara) Finnegan and children Jennifer and Michael “Sherwood” (Ashley) Finnegan, Cousin Richard (Mary) Bloomer, The Worcester Family, Barb Worcester (Chuck Chvala), Dana Worcester (Richard Barnes), Richard (Laura) Worcester and great nieces Natalie and Ariana Worcester, and the Gallen Family, James (Joann) Gallen, James (Katie) Gallen, Katie

 Gallen, Kevin (Ann) Gallen, Carol, Sarah Gallen (Jaci Pringle), and countless friends and loved ones, including the Chinhae Reunion, Thursday Bridge Group, College Roommates, Women Who Wine, and the Cherry Court Neighborhood, all who met regularly for fun times and moral support.  The annual Wine Crawl will never be the same.

A visitation for Dottie will be held on March 7th, 2024 from noon until time of service at 2:00 pm at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 724 E South River St in Appleton.

The family wishes to extend their grateful appreciation to Oak Park Place in Menasha, and Bristol Hospice, for their attentive and loving care of Dottie in her last days.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in honor of Dorothy to Planned Parenthood Foundation of America and the Green Bay School District Orchestra, 200 S. Broadway, Green Bay, WI 54303, Attention: Amy Fish.