Dorothy J. (Riley) Koczera, 88, of New Bedford died Wednesday November 11, 2009 at Autumn Glen Assisted Living. She was the wife of the late Dr. Stanley J. Koczera.
Born in New Bedford the daughter of the late Charles Leo and Mary T. (Donaghy) Riley, she lived in New Bedford for all of her life.
She was a communicant of St. Lawrence Church and St. Francis of Assisi Church.
Many years ago, Mrs. Koczera was employed as a registered nurse in the operating room at St. Luke's Hospital. She later was the golf director at Hawthorne Country Cub and the Executive Director for New Bedford Council on Aging.
She was a graduate of New Bedford High School and St. Luke's Hospital School of Nursing. She was a member of the Catholic Woman's Club.
An avid golfer, Mrs. Koczera had been a member of the Country Club of New Bedford for 63 years. She had been the President of the CCNB Women's Golf Association from 1959-1960 and 1989-1991. A co-founder of the CCNB Women's Fourball, she won the Fourball four times and was the Women's Golf Association Club Champion four times. She was a member of the Women's Golf Association of Massachusetts, where she served on the Executive Committee of the Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund, and had been tournament chairman, rules chairman, and historian.
Survivors include five sons, Stanley J. Koczera, Jr., of North Port, FL, Daniel J. Koczera of Charles Town, WV, Peter C. Koczera of Newhall, CA, Jan B. Koczera of San Diego, CA, and Paul W.D. Koczera of Caryville, TN; twin daughters, Kathryn McMahon of Lakeville and Karole Crook of Norwell; three brothers, Paul V. Riley of West Chester, PA, Dr. George A. Riley of Worcester, and David K. Riley of Colorado; a sister, Mary T. Gilman of Greenfield; sixteen grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
She was the sister of the late Margaret M. Livingstone, Robert R. Riley, General Leonard J. Riley, Charles Leo Riley, Jr., and Dr. John F. Riley, and companion of the late Noel J. Whiting.
Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday at 10 AM at St. Lawrence Church. Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Sunday from 4-8 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.