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JAMES “JIM SR.” F. DOLAN SR.

JAMES “JIM SR.” F. DOLAN SR.

1940 ~ 2023

Jim Sr. grew up in Billerica and Lowell, and graduated from Lowell High School with the Class of 1959; where he played varsity football. He founded the Dolan Funeral Home in 1974 with the idea serving the needs of the families of the Merrimack Valley. With sadden hearts, we announce that Jim has passed away on February 11, 2023. Click here to view his obituary.

JAMES “JIM” F. DOLAN II

Type 3 Funeral Director ~ Owner

Jim grew up living above a funeral home. He became a Licensed Funeral Director in 1989; celebrating 33 years of service. He is a 1984 graduate of Central Catholic High School in Lawrence. He received an Associate Degree in Funeral Service from New England Institute of Boston, MA, a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from University of Lowell, and a Master in Education from Rivier College. Jim taught science grades 7-9 in the Chelmsford Public Schools for eleven years. He is married to his best friend and the rock of his life, Patrice Anne (Ryan) Dolan. They have three children, Andrew, Grace and Kathleen “Kay”. Andrew, who works along side of him at the funeral home. Grace is a junior at Johnson & Wales in Providence, RI studying Media & Communications, and is on the school’s equestrian dressage team. Kathleen is a freshman at UConn in the Pathology Biology program, and is on the club track team. Jim enjoys camping and the outdoors as well as travelling. He loves spending time with his family especially going on vacations with them.

ANDREW J. DOLAN

Type 3 Funeral Director ~ Owner

Andrew grew up in Chelmsford playing youth sports. He graduated from Chelmsford High School with the Class of 2017; where he played varsity football. Andrew is an Eagle Scout, and as a scout belonged to Troop 74 of the Central Congregational Church in Chelmsford. Andrew attended Mount Ida College in Newton; where he played division 3 football as a freshman. He was studying business and funeral service; until the school’s closing in May of 2018. He graduated with an Associate Degree in Funeral Service from Commonwealth Institute of Houston, TX online; while attending at UMass Amherst Isenberg School of Management in pursuit of a Bachelor in Science in Business. Andrew graduated from UMASS Amherst in 2021. He was licensed as a Funeral Director in July 2020. Andrew enjoys spending time with friends. He is an avid outdoorsman, and enjoys hiking and camping in his free time. He is a devoted New England Patriots and Boston Celtics fan. Andrew is the third generation in the family business.

DENNIS W. GRAHAM

Type 6 Funeral Director ~ Full Time

Dennis was raised in York Beach, Maine and graduated from York High School. While in high school, he would spend his summers working in funeral service to get experience. He enjoyed the experience and graduated from SUNY Canton for Mortuary Science. He became a licensed funeral director in 1999. Dennis has worked part time with the Dolan Funeral Home since being licensed and full time since May 2013. Dennis enjoys the variety of religion, culture, traditions and nontraditional services he has experienced over the years. When Dennis is not at work, he enjoys spending time with his beautiful wife and boys. He enjoys skiing, riding, hiking, and vacationing in the New Hampshire White Mountains, and Colorado. He volunteers for the local Scouts of America, and Youth Basketball. In his free time Dennis can be found at Tewksbury Sports Club; where he has been a long time regular gym enthusiast, and occasionally at the Spindell Barbell Club in Lowell.

MICHAEL C. COPPA

Type 6 Funeral Director ~ Full Time

Michael was born in Boston and raised in Chelmsford. He graduated from Chelmsford High School with the class of 2018. Michael started to work part time with the Middlesex Cremation in the summer of 2019, and transitioned to full time in the fall of 2021. Michael is currently enrolled online at Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service of Houston, TX; where he is pursuing a degree in Funeral Service. He hopes to graduate in December, 2022, and being licensed as a type 6 Funeral Director in early 2023. He is a member of the Lowell Sportsman Club in Chelmsford. Michael enjoys spending his free time with his friends and family, going snowboarding in the winter, fishing in the summer and taking his dog Mia on walks.

FRED HEALY

Type 6 Funeral Director

Fred is a fourth-generation Funeral Director and Certified Preplanning Consultant with 42 years of funeral service experience, serving the families of Greater Lowell for his entire career. Fred joined the Middlesex Cremation team in January 2023. He previously owned and operated the Morse-Bayliss Funeral Home in Lowell as well as the J. A. Healy Sons Funeral Home in Westford. Fred graduated from Groton Country Day School in 1972 and graduated from Saint John’s Prep in Danvers in 1976. He furthered his education at New England Institute of Applied Sciences in Boston. Fred is married to Janis L. Healy and they have three children, Jordan T. Healy, Lauren C. Joyce and her husband Justin and Andrew J. Healy and his partner Alexus and two grandsons, Asa Frederick and Callum Joyce. He enjoyes spending time at the Cape and is a self proclaimed, expert salt water angler.

CATHY LEWIS

Office Manager ~ Full Time

Cathy was raised in Scranton, PA, and is one of four children. She graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a B.S. in Early Childhood Development. Cathy worked for eight years as an administrative assistant in the trade magazine publishing industry before marrying her husband, Fred moving to Chelmsford, and raising their son, Christopher. Aside from volunteering in local school and church communities, she also worked part-time as a substitute teacher in the Chelmsford Public Schools. Cathy was the Coordinator for the RISE Program at Rivier University in Nashua, NH. In the fall of 2021, she joined the wonderful team at Middlesex Cremation as Office Manager, supporting the funeral directors in all aspects of their service to families. Outside of work, Cathy enjoys exercise, reading, cooking for her family, drawing, watercolor painting, and traveling with her husband. She currently volunteers as Treasurer for the St. Vincent de Paul Society at St. John the Evangelist Church in Chelmsford.

ELIZABETH “BETTY” A. BUKALA

Office Manager ~ Part Time

Betty was raised in Chelmsford, and graduated from Chelmsford High School in 1974. Betty joined Middlesex Cremation in August 2020. Before working for Middlesex Cremation, Betty worked for the Lowell Sun for over 45 years. She was married for 42 years to the late James “Jim” Bukala who died on August 20, 2021. Betty has a daughter, Jennifer Fletcher and son-in-law, Thomas Fletcher, 3 grandchildren Benjamin, Emily and Lily Fletcher who she adores. Betty enjoys relaxing at the beach and spending time with her family and friends.

David Davis

Apprentice ~ Full Time

David joined Middlesex Cremation at the beginning of 2023. After spending over twenty five years in the consumer electronics industry, he decided it was time for a change. He graduated from the Funeral Service program at Cape Cod Community College in the spring of 2022 and is a member of Pi Sigma Eta the National Morticians Fraternity.

David lives in Haverhill with his wife, daughter, and two dogs. He is a member of Merrimack Lodge F.& A.M. and the Aleppo Shriners. In his spare time, David enjoys music (especially jazz & blues), movies (documentaries & independent films), and books. He looks forward to becoming a licensed funeral director.

Since retirement, Jeff had taught English at Nashua Community College for six years. Jeff currently serves on the Town of Chelmsford School Committee. He has also worked diligently on his tennis and golf games with absolutely no noticeable improvement in either sport. He enjoys reading, napping and spending time with his wife Patty and his adult children Bridget and Patrick.

Stephen Villeneuve

Apprentice ~ Full Time

Stephen was born and raised in Chelmsford. In 2014 Stephen moved to California then later returned in 2016. He graduated from Chelmsford High School with the class of 2022. At Chelmsford High Stephen was a Section Leader in the marching band and concert band. He participated in various youth sports in town.

Stephen starting working part time at the Middlesex Cremation in September of 2022 and transitioned to full time in the spring of 2023. In his free time, you can find Stephen riding his motorcycle around town, spending time with his friends and family playing cards and board games or going on hikes and camping trips in the White Mountains in New Hampshire.

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