Cecelia Dolly Boarman

Cecelia "Dolly" Boarman was born in Owensboro, Kentucky on November 21, 1913 to her parents, Gertrude A. Spindler and William George Mischel. She was one of five siblings in her family. Dolly was adventurous and talented in her youth. She enjoyed performing, playing music, and traveling.

Later, Dolly married James Noble Boarman, also from Owensboro, Ky. Together they had one child, Jovita Boarman Fine. In 1945, Dolly abruptly became a widow and a single parent, after her husband died from a war related injury.

Dolly was an independent and determined woman. She opened a shop and ran her own small business for a short time. She also worked at a local bank, attended college, and eventually became an educator. She taught in parochial schools for 11 years and later worked as a substitute teacher.

Dolly had a caring and generous heart. She was loved deeply by her friends and family who could always count on her in times of joy as well as times of need. She had unwavering religious faith and was extremely active in her parish, especially at Blessed Mother Catholic Church. She also served as a volunteer for many years at Mercy Hospital and at the Carmel Nursing Home in Owensboro. 

Dolly was admired by so many people, even late in her life, for her quick mind and tenacity. She was a wonderful storyteller, a winning card player, and a lifelong teacher. She loved words, puzzles, language and syntax. 

After living 95 years in Kentucky, Dolly moved to Prescott, Az. in 2009 to live with her daughter and be near her grandchildren. She became a member of Sacred Heart Parish. In February 2016 she was awarded a long awaited college diploma for the credits she had earned at Brescia College almost 60 years prior. Just two months later, on April 7, 2016 Dolly passed away at the age of 102.

She is survived by her daughter Jovita Fine, her grandchildren, Lance, Jason and Ashley Fine, and her great grandchildren Reed and Devan Fine, Adrianna and Jaxon Fine, and Sedona and Noble Ortega. She also leaves behind numerous nieces, nephews and extended family whom she loved and appreciated deeply.

The bookends of Dolly's long and remarkable life are a parentheses around an incredible amount of history and change (1913-2016),and she was a compassionate and courageous woman through it all. She will be remembered affectionately and her legacy will carry on in the hearts of those who loved her.

A funeral mass will take place May 7, 2016 at Blessed Mother Church in Owensboro, Ky.