Carmela M. "Dolly" Corcoran

Carmela M. “Dolly” Corcoran, 91, born and raised in Phillipsburg, NJ,  died  peacefully at home on Saturday January 18, 2020.

Born on January 2, 1929, in Phillipsburg NJ, she was the daughter of the late Rose Attinello and Sabatino Cuva.

Dolly was married to the late Thomas W. Corcoran and is survived by her 3 sons, Kevin F. Corcoran, wife Heather, Effort PA, Brian T. Corcoran, wife Gretchen,  Phillipsburg and T. Kent Corcoran, wife Sherry, Phillipsburg.  She is also survived by 6 grandchildren, Courtney,  Derek, Annika, Matthew , Jonathan and Angela Corcoran.  Dolly is also survived by her brother S. Frank Cuva and his wife Barbara of Phillipsburg and a sister Josephine Erdo of Alpha.  She was predeceased by her sister Mary Coyle. She is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.

Dolly graduated from Phillipsburg High School, class of 1946 and went on the graduate from Trenton State Teachers College with a degree in Health and Physical Education.

Dolly was a teacher for 42 years, beginning in Washington, NJ, continuing on in Clinton Twsp, High Bridge and spending the majority of her career teaching in Phillipsburg at the Middle School where she was a health teacher and Student Advisor.

While teaching full time and raising a family, Dolly gave back to her community, Dolly was active as a member of the Warren Hospital Auxiliary and helped lead the effort to create and build the Wishing Well Gift Shop.  She was recognized in 2015 for Lifetime Volunteerism by the hospital, she volunteered over 22,000 hours over 65 years.  She previously had served on the Hospital and Foundation Board of Directors.

Dolly was a member of the NJEA, NEA and the Retired Teachers Association. She was also a former Warren County Democratic Committee Woman.  She was a recipient of the New Jersey Governor’s Recognition, Teacher of the Year Award in 1989. Dolly was also a former First Lady of Phillipsburg during her husband Tom’s tenure as Mayor.  Dolly was honored to receive the Elizabeth Wade Award in 2002 for the Joseph H. Firth Youth Center.  She was a member of St Philip and St James Church.

Viewing hours will be on Tuesday January 21, 2020 from 6 to 8 pm at The Finegan Funeral Home, 302 Heckman St., Phillipsburg, NJ.  Funeral services will be held on Wednesday January 22, 2020 at 9:15 am at the funeral home, followed by at Funeral Mass at 10 am at St. Philip & St. James Catholic Church, Phillipsburg. Entombment will be in Holy Apostles Mausoleum in Greenwich Twp., NJ.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to any of the following:  The St. Luke’s Foundation for the benefit of the Warren Campus, 185 Roseberry Street, Phillipsburg, NJ  08865;  Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice, 99 Sparta Avenue, Newton, NJ 07860; or Sts. Philip and James Church, 430 South Main Street, Phillipsburg, NJ  08865.