Dorothea Marie Goggin's Obituary
On August 17, 2011 at the Capital Hospice in Arlington, VA. Dorothea Marie Sullivan Goggin, eldest daughter of the late Arthur Francis and Margaret Rita Sullivan, was born in Somerville, MA in 1934. She is survived by her beloved steadfast husband of 58 years, Maj. Thomas P. Goggin (USMC Ret.) Loving mother of Tom Goggin Jr., Mary McManus, Sheila Van Vleet, Dotty Goggin, and Michael Goggin, Dot showed her continuous, daily loving support for her 4 younger siblings, her 5 children, her 14 grandchildren, her 2 great-grandchildren, and her 19 nieces and nephews, plus close family friends throughout her entire life.
She was raised in Somerville as part of a large, loving family, including her much loved predeceased Aunt, Dorothy Holland, and she is survived by her siblings, Arthur Sullivan, Mary Sullivan Girouard, Kathleen Sullivan Millerick, and Margaret Sullivan Allosso, and also by her Brother-In-Law Daniel Goggin and wife Connie. After her marriage to Tom Goggin of Somerville, MA she shared a busy life as a U. S. Marine Corps Wife and Mother moving her children and household six times in seven years, before settling in Vienna, VA for 38 years, and then in Lansdowne, VA for 10 years.
Dot was a proud graduate of Matignon H. S. of Cambridge, MA, Class of 1951. Over many years she served as a volunteer nursing assistant, library assistant, and school aide. She worked as an executive assistant in real estate, and worked for two U. S. Government agencies. Her greatest professional love was for her writing. Her work was recognized as a major talent by her professors while she attended George Mason University in Fairfax, VA and she is a published author and poet.
She loved literature, movies, and especially her Washington Post and Sunday New York Times. She believed that everyone should take part in the American political process and she loved to debate and discuss politics. In both her writing and in her personal views, Dot was always able to honestly view the world for what it was, and yet somehow believe that something good could always be found.
Dorothea, Dot, Mom, Nana believed throughout her entire life that love and a positive attitude will always triumph, even when she was rapidly declining while fighting her illness. She lived her life as a vivid example of assertive love and friendship, for her family, for her friends, and for almost everyone she met in life. She was beloved for her constant kindness and forgiving heart. From her beginning to her end she had the heart and soul of a Christian champion.
Visitation will be held at Loudoun Funeral Chapel at 158 Catoctin Circle, S.E Leesburg, VA 20175, on Thursday, August 25th from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM. Phone: (703) 777-6000 http://www.loudounfuneralchapel.com/
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, August 26, 2011 at 11:00 AM at St. Theresa Catholic Church, on 21371 St. Theresa Lane Ashburn, VA 20147. Phone: 703-729-2287
Interment will follow at a later date at the Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA 22211.
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