Dorothy I. Kenney, of Woburn, passed away Tuesday, April 12, 2022. "Dolly", as she was known to family and friends, was born in Boston on November 7, 1940, to her parents Frank and Sarah Riley and was raised alongside her seven siblings in Charlestown, MA, where she attended the local high school. There she met Eugene (Gino) C. Kenney whom she married in November of 1962. They moved to Medford, and had one son, Eugene F. Kenney, before they divorced. She eventually moved to Woburn where she resided for over thirty years.
Dolly worked in the food service industry for most of her life. She enjoyed trips to the local New England Casinos where she could play the slot machines for hours. She also enjoyed others forms of gambling such as Bingo, playing the lottery including daily numbers and scratch tickets and playing cards with her friends. She was a friendly neighbor and would frequently take the residents in her building out on shopping trips. She was always ready to land a helping hand to anyone in need.
Dolly loved to spend time with her many nieces and nephews. She was the epitome of the "Cool Auntie". She would host sleep overs for her nieces and nephews where she would allow them to stay up later, drink soda and eat whatever junk food they desired. She was so proud of each one when she attended special occasions such as birthday parties, baby showers and weddings. She was further overjoyed to watch these same nieces and nephews have their own children and to be involved in the lives of the next generation of her family.
Dolly's ultimate pride and joy were her three grandsons Joshua, Jacob and Jeremy. She anxiously awaited their arrivals and could not wait to welcome each boy into her life. It was not unusual for her to get down on the floor and play with them when they were toddlers. It always brought a smile to her face to see them dressed in ties when attending a school dance. She eagerly awaited the school pictures every fall and listened patiently to the detailed play by play of their football or lacrosse games. She loved to shower the boys with gifts and began asking about their Christmas wish list the day after their birthdays. Although circumstances surrounding COVID-19 prevented her from attending the ceremonies in person, it did not diminish the pride she felt when all three boys graduated from Pinkerton Academy in Derry, NH and continued unto the next steps in their life journey.
A few years before her death, Dolly was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. She endured several rounds of chemotherapy and was responding well for quite some time. Her most recent round of chemo was not as successful and eventually, she succumbed to the disease.
Dolly is survived by her only child, Gene Kenney and his wife Diene of Derry, NH, her grandsons Joshua, Jacob and Jeremy as well as her brother, Warren Riley and his wife Frances of Randolph. In addition to her late parents, Dolly was preceded in death by her siblings Lorraine MacDonald, Ralph Riley, Helen Siuda, Eleanor DelRaso, Evelyn Butler, and Kenneth Riley. She is further survived by many nieces and nephews as well as other relatives.
Family and friends are respectfully invited to attend visiting hours at the McLaughlin - Dello Russo Family Funeral Home, 60 Pleasant St., Woburn, Saturday, April 23rd, from 3 to 7 p.m. Interment services will be private.