Anne McKneally

Anne McKneally, 91

November 15, 1934 – December 7, 2025

Anne McKneally, a woman of wit, independence, and flair, passed away peacefully on December 7, 2025, at the age of ninety one. She was born on November 15, 1934, in Newburgh, New York, to George and Alice (nee Fogarty) McKneally.

The eldest of four siblings, Anne was a fond older sister to Martin, Mary Ellen (Richard) O’Toole, and Paul. She leaves behind a large and loving family, including five children, Greg (Mary) Dooley, Matthew Dooley, Beth (John) La Fleur, Justin (Maralyn) Dooley, and Martin Dooley, who will forever remember her mix of maternal love and wisdom. She is also survived by eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, all of whom inherited some part of her humor and intellect.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Paul.

Anne attended Mount St. Mary High School (also known as Bishop Dunn Memorial School) before going on to the College of New Rochelle. After college, she worked at the Ted Bates advertising agency in New York City. It was through her brother Martin that she met her future husband, Richard Dooley, and shortly after marrying, the couple relocated to Oak Park, Illinois, eventually settling in nearby River Forest. There, Anne raised five children with her signature blend of warmth, strength, and intelligence.

She fell in love with motherhood and gave her children the best of herself, combining nurturing with challenging them to make full use of their gifts and abilities. She became an early member of the La Leche League, just as it was forming in the late 1950s. At a time when breastfeeding was considered old- fashioned and even discouraged, Anne stood firmly for mothers’ rights to nurture their children in the way they saw fit. She hosted meetings, counseled new moms, and brought both compassion and conviction to the movement. Her involvement reflected her deep belief in women’s autonomy, the importance of community, and the power of knowledge shared woman-to-woman.

Anne was gifted both intellectually and artistically. She was an accomplished pianist and a lover of music, from folk and rock to classical and opera. A gifted artist, she painted many subjects with great vision and never stopped expressing her artistic talent. She was a longtime member of the Oak Park Art League, joining her artist friends in exploring the creative world of drawing and painting. A voracious reader, she was also a prolific writer, which led to her next act after full-time motherhood.

Once her children were older, she carved out a remarkable second act. She taught at the University of Illinois at Chicago and held roles in journalism and public relations before making a mark in the corporate world as a trainer and educator. Her passion for clear communication and belief in lifelong learning carried through every stage of her professional life.

Anne was a force: stylish, intellectual, articulate, and loyal. She believed in telling the truth, even when it was inconvenient, and found humor in nearly everything, including herself. She will be deeply missed and fondly remembered. She had the rare gift of making you think, even as you were laughing or rolling your eyes.

A memorial service for Anne will be held by the family – for more information, please contact Martin Dooley at martinote510@gmail.com.