Published February 8, 2019

MELROSE — Anne Marie “Nancy” Doran, 81, of Melrose died Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019 after a courageous second battle with cancer.

Born in Somerville on May 26, 1937, she was the youngest daughter of Michael and Hilda (White) Doran, both of Newfoundland, natives of Canada.  

She was a 1955 graduate of St. Columbkille High School in Brighton and a 1959 graduate of Boston State Teachers College. Ms. Doran taught school for more than 30 years, retiring from O’Donnell Elementary School in Boston.  

Nancy was a resident of Melrose for over 50 years. She was a member of the Audubon society and an avid birder. Nancy visited birding sites on Plum lsland, Mount Hood in Melrose, Revere, and in Cape May, N.J. She also enjoyed gardening and reading, and kayaking with a niece in Pocasset, Cataumet and Falmouth. For many years, she skied in the Berkshires and in Vermont with her brother, Bill, and four other nieces and a nephew.  

ln 1988, Nancy and several of her siblings traveled to Newfoundland to research their ancestral roots. They found the foundation of their father’s family home and each took a piece of it. Nancy was a former member of the Lynn chapter of Sweet Adelines, where she sang lead in the chorus. She had a wry sense of humor, much to the delight of her nieces and nephews.  

She leaves a sister, Elizabeth M. Shea of Melrose; a brother, William J. Doran and his husband Phillip R. Veysey of Boston; 15 nieces; eight nephews, and many great-nieces and great-nephews. She was predeceased by seven siblings, Mary F. Goswell, Dorothy A. Mulcahy, Edward W. Doran, Marguerite D. McCarthy, Eleanor J. Costello, Lois Burghoff and Francis X. Doran, and by two nieces and four nephews.  

Visitation will be held at St. Cecilia’s Church 18 Belvidere St. Boston, on Saturday April 13 from 10 – 11 a.m., followed by a memorial Mass at 11 a.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 40 Speen St. Framingham, MA 01701 or to a charity of your choice. To send a message of condolence please visit www.gatelyfh.com