Dolores R. Raube, 88 years old
GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (September 2, 2026)(CNBNews)–Dolores R. Raube (nee Cleary) passed away on August 31, 2026 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. A few month ago, her nurse told the family that she was in the seventh stage of this dreadful ailment and suggested to the family that she should be placed on Hospice care. Her sons Michael and Joe Raube were taking care of her at her Brown Street home during her illness.
She graduated from Gloucester Catholic with the Class of ’56. After graduation Dolores was hired as a secretary by Quigleys Lumber, at 811 Market Street. Much later she worked for the Gloucester City News, a weekly newspaper owned by her parents, George and Mazie Cleary.
Following her mariage to Joe, the couple moved to Ventnor. They lived in a apartment attached to a corner food store that was owned by Joe’s parents. They stayed there for several years as Joe learned the butcher’s trade. Several years later the couple returned to Gloucester City and purchased a home on East Brown Street a few properties from the house where Dolores grew up. Once established into their new home the couple acquired Paul’s Market (Paul Martz) at 900 Market Street.
After she had children Dolores continued working part-time managing the Gloucester City News subscription list. Each Wednesday she delivered the weekly paper to 45 area stores. After their three sons were
Dolores was hired as a teacher’s aide by the Gloucester City Board of Education. After 20 years of employment she retired.
Dolores and Joe purchased Gloucester Travel in the late 1990’s and sold it in 2004. During that time they visited Ireland, Alaska, Hawaii, Las Vegas and a number of other countries and states.
Her husband, Joseph, died on January 21, 2025 at the age of 86. She and Joe were married for over 60 years. .
HER SONS RALLIED AROUND HER
Michael Raube, her youngest son, quit his job to take care of his mother. Mike was asked for his thoughts about the overwhelming task caring for her.
Michael said, I believe her battle with Alzheimer began sometime towards the end of 2021. The first time Dad mentioned anything to me was in January of 2022. We were on vacation in Florida and dad pulled me aside and said “ When you get back from vacation I want to talk to you about mom , she’s starting to really forget things ( sometimes even me ). He further explained that when they were driving down to meet us in Florida that she looked at him all upset and asked him who he was. Where are you taking me ? Dad did his best and calmed her down and 10 minutes later she was herself again. Later on in 2022 Dad quit his part time job to take care of her full time.
Fast forward to October 30th 2024, Dads health took a rapid decline, a mass on his brain was discovered. He was rushed to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Camden City. He was released a week later to a rehab facility in Pennsauken. While he was gone Joe stayed at the house from Sunday night to Friday to be with mom. I stayed with mom from Friday til Sunday night when Joe returned. Frequently after work I took her to visit Dad during the week. Dad came home from the rehab facility on Monday November 25th 2024. It was a lot for Joe to take care of both of them, especially with his disability. I quit my job and moved into their house on Wednesday December 11th 2024 to take care of both of them. Dad passed on Tuesday January 21st 2025 and it’s been Mom and I since then. Joe was still a big help because if I needed to be away a weekend for a pool tournament or take a week vacation to visit my kids, Joe would stay here the whole time.
Sometimes Mom would call me Joe and I wasn’t sure if she meant my dad or my brother. When I would reply I’m Mike she would say. Oh yea that’s right. She often asked me if she could leave the house because her parents needed her and wanted to see her. I would reply several ways; It’s too hot or cold to go out. Besides, they called me and said never mind they were going out or sometimes I would say, I don’t have the keys to get out.
I wouldn’t say it was hard watching her memories fade I’d say sad. Sometimes I would look at her and physically she still was my mom but sad because we weren’t able to have real conversations.
One thing I will definitely say about what I chose to do…. “ I don’t regret one minute of it !!! I’m so glad I was able to do it especially because they NEVER wanted to go into a home or facility they wanted to die peacefully in their own home. And I was able to make that happen.
Her son, David, who lived in Pennsylvania came to have lunch with her as often as he could get away. He called his mom the unofficial mayor of Gloucester City. Dave sent the following for publication.
She Was the Unofficial “Mayor” of the City
I remember one of my girls’ favorite stories comes from a day Olivia and Charlotte spent accompanying Mom as she ran her regular errands around town. Whether they were stopping by the post office, stepping into the grocery store, or just walking down the sidewalk, people constantly stopped Mom to say hello, ask how she was doing, and check in on family and friends. Olivia and Charlotte were so struck by how many people knew her by name and genuinely loved chatting with her that they called me right after to report: “I think Grandmom is famous!”
It perfectly captures how deeply connected she was to her community and how easily she made people feel wherever she went.
Mom had a wonderful, classic sense of humor and a knack for using nostalgic sayings that always brought a smile to everyone’s face. Some of her absolute signature phrases included:
- “Hot-diggety!” (whenever she was genuinely excited or pleased)
- “You’re a tall drink of water!”
- “Be careful or you’ll fall on your boom-a-latty!” (her affectionate, go-to warning whenever anyone was getting a little too clumsy)
These little expressions were such a core part of her personality—warm, playful, traditional, and uniquely her.
I OWE HER MY LIFE
Her brother Bill, the founder and editor of Cleary’s Notebook News, (CNBNews) credits his sister with saving his life when he was seven years old. Bill was the former publisher and editor of the Gloucester City News and the Camden County Record two weekly newspapers. He recently released a book From Pen to Paper, a story about his life growing up in Gloucester City and his 58 years as a journalist. At age 82 he continues to work as editor of the CNBNews.
Bill said when he was very small he tried climbing over the spike iron fence on the Brown Street side of old St. Mary’s Cemetery. He slipped and fell on the top of one of the iron spikes. He was left hanging there unable to move as the spike went into the left side of chest. Dolores who was five years older than her brother was walking home from nearby Martin’s Lake, two blocks away from their home at 832 East Brown Street. Dolores remembered yelling at Bill, “What are you doing up there? Get down.” According to the doctor who treated him at Underwood Hospital that spike just missed his vital organs by a centimeter. Any closer and he would have died. When Bill tells the story he jokely says, “When Dolores asked me what was I doing hanging on the fence, I wished I had said that I was just hanging out.” Dolores lifted her brother up and off the spike. He was unconscious and she carried him to their home. “If she didn’t rescued me I would surely had died, “ said Bill.
“Our mother also had Alzheimer’s. Near the end of her life she broke her hip and was confined to bed at her home. Not long after that fall, she died. In the beginning of Dolores’ battle with this illness she walked from her house on East Brown Street to our home 8 blocks away. She was carrying a heavy box in her arms that was full with nick nacks that she had collected during her lifetime. One of her former students from long-ago saw her walking with that box. She stopped and gave her a ride. When asked where she wanted to go she said, “ I want to visit my brother Billy, he lives somewhere in Gloucester City.”
Fortunately the former student knew where we lived and drove her to our house. One day walking by her house, I see her standing outside with a suitcase. When I approached her she wrapped her arms around my neck and started to cry. She said their was a man inside the house that she didn’t know, and she was afraid of him. She said that Joe left her for another woman. On another occasion Dolores went missing for a couple of hours. Joe called me and asked if our family could help with searching for her. Much later she returned home. She had been sitting in a neighbor’s house, 3 homes down the street all that time.
Remembering Dolores
Denise Guldin, her good friend for the past 30 years was asked about their friendship. And, when did she first notice a change in Dolores.
Jim and Denise Guldin, Dolores and Joe Raube
The cruise to Alaska brings up a memory of Dolores that still makes me smile when I see a bottle of Jack Daniel’s. The four of us went to dinner one night, and Joe ordered a Jack on the rocks. He took a sip, made a face, and said to Dolores, “Take a sip and let me know what you think — is it really Jack Daniel’s?” She took this tiny sip and said with great authority, “Nope, it is not.” So Joe sent it back, and when the next Jack came, she sipped it and declared it the real thing. In all the years I have known her, I have never seen her drink — unless it was her tiny, tiny glass of port she would have before bed. Her drink preferences were lemonade or a root beer float. I assume at some point she must have taken a little sip so she would know what it was supposed to taste like — I mean, she was the quality control inspector, ha!
You asked when we first noticed a difference in Dolores. I would say about two years ago, while we were playing Scrabble — something we would do every other Saturday. We even played on the plane to Hawaii; Joe had brought a small, magnetic metal travel game. Dolores was good with her words, and many a time I would challenge her and bring out the Scrabble dictionary, but I would always lose — she would be correct. The noticeable thing when we played that I thought was unusual was her placement of the tiles. We would laugh and say, “Come on, Dolores, you can’t place them in that direction,” and she would laugh, and Joe would lean over and say, “Isn’t she cute?” Looking back, I can see that he was protecting her and didn’t want us to know something was happening to her.
You asked how I felt when I found out for sure that she had Alzheimer’s. I experienced the changes from week to week when I would visit her, and we would go out to lunch or go to the park and have a picnic. They were small changes in the beginning, and I started reading more about this disease and would use this knowledge when I was with her — little things like mirroring her moods, smiling when she smiled, commiserating when she was upset, laughing when she did. The past four or five months, the conversations started to make less sense — at least to the one hearing her — but they seemed to make sense to her. There were so many things that changed, but I knew they would, and it hurt to know what this horrible disease would do to my vibrant friend. Soon she didn’t really know me, but she would always smile at me and hold my hand when I came in to see her.
The week before last, I said I would bring my rosary and pray it with her, as I knew it was something Joe and she used to do. I started and probably got to the second decade when she said, “Eeny, meeny, miney, mo” (I’m sure I spelled that wrong), and I figured she had had enough of my reciting! I had to laugh — she was still making me laugh.
Dolores was an exceptional person. She was kind to everyone, and if you mentioned her name, you would definitely hear someone say a positive word about her. She was my friend; we shared so many wonderful times together. She was my confidante — if you told her something you wanted to keep private, you knew you could trust her.
Dolores was fun to be with. We had so many great times together; her laugh was contagious. We would talk about our day, what happened in school — just the little conversations that friends have with one another. We would always talk about our children and grandchildren and our husbands, ha!
I will miss her every day, and I’ll think of her whenever I see purple flowers (her favorite color), a photo of a puffin (she liked those silly little sea birds), or sit on the beach and look out at the ocean.
The McCann-Healey Funeral Home, 851 Monmouth Street released the following information about her funeral arrangements on Saturday, September 12.
Dolores R. Raube (née Cleary), 88, of Gloucester City, NJ, passed away peacefully at her home on August 31, 2026. Born in Camden, NJ on July 13, 1938, she was the daughter of the late George Francis Cleary and Mazie E. (née Tucker) Cleary.
Dolores was a graduate of Gloucester Catholic High School (Class of 1956) and went on to earn her Associate’s Degree. A dedicated member of her community, she worked for many years as a teacher’s aide at Gloucester City High School prior to her retirement. Alongside her late husband, Joe, she was a former owner of Gloucester Travel from the late 1990’s to 2004 and loved traveling the world with him throughout their 65 years of marriage.
She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Joseph D. Raube, Sr., and her brother, George Cleary (surviving Shirley).
Dolores is survived by her loving sons: Joseph D. Raube, Jr. (Mary Jo), David Raube (Margo), and Michael Raube; her brother, William Cleary (Connie); her seven cherished grandchildren whom she deeply adored, Gregory, Patrick, Madeline, Olivia, Charlotte, Regina, and Dylan; and many loving extended family members and friends.
Relatives and friends are invited to her visitation on Saturday, September 12, 2026, from 10:15 to 11:15 a.m. at St. Mary’s R.C. Church, 426 Monmouth St., Gloucester City. Her Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m. Interment will follow in New St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bellmawr.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in memory of Dolores to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org
Condolences and Memories may be shared at www.mccannhealey.com under the obituary of Dolores R. Raube. Funeral Arrangements and Inquiries through McCANN-HEALEY FUNERAL HOME, Gloucester City. Ph:856-456-1142.
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IN LOVING MEMORY OF
WOODROW A.
DOOLEY, JR. “WOODY”
NOV 14, 1946 — AUG 22, 2026
LAUREL SPRINGS
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Obituary
On August 22, 2026, Age 79. Of Laurel Springs and formerly of Gloucester City and Woodbury Heights. Loving and devoted husband of 14 years to Ann R. Dooley (nee Grayo) and her son and caregiver, Daniel (Angela) Orbanus. Predeceased by his first wife, Gloria Jean Dooley (nee Walters), survived by his partner and companion, Catherine Lafferty and survived by his former wife, Eve Dooley (nee Feltman). Predeceased by his beloved parents: Woodrow A. Dooley, Sr. and Catherine Theresa Dooley (nee Cunningham). Survived by his cherished children: Colleen (William) Casey, Woodrow A. (Jennifer) Dooley, III, Dr. Daniel J. (Stephanie) Dooley, Theresa (Edward Elwell) Dooley and Joseph Dooley. Predeceased by his first child, Gloria L. Dooley and predeceased by his sisters: Veronica Kent and Catherine Dooley. Adored grandfather of Desirae Maria Dooley, Danica Abigail Dooley, Delaney Katherine Dooley, Daniel J. Dooley, Jr., Emilia Claire Dooley, William G. Casey, Jr., Cailin Jean Casey and Cristina Elena (Ian Woolridge) Mayers. Loving Great-grandfather of Addalyn Dooley, Anthony Martinez, Bass Woolridge, Sabine Woolridge, Ian Woolridge, Jr. and Jaxtyn Chase Casey. Dear brother of Mary (Joe) Pollock and Nancy Fenton. Survived by many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins.
Woodrow was known to all who knew him as “Woody” and was born in Camden City, NJ. He was raised in Gloucester City and attended and graduated from Gloucester Catholic High School Class of 1964. Woody proudly served our country and entered the U.S. Marine Corps where he was honorably discharged as a Private. His love of country continued upon coming home to enter the respected Boilermaker Union Local # 28 in 1965 and was named Business Agent for Local # 28 from 1981 to 1987.
Woody was a longtime and devoted parishioner of Saint Mary’s R.C. Church in Gloucester City and in 1981 moved from Gloucester City to Woodbury Heights. He became active in St. Margaret’s R.C. Church in Woodbury Heights where he faithfully served as a Eucharistic Minister. In 2012, Woody reconnected with his current wife, Ann who was his classmate at Gloucester Catholic High School and they laughed and had 14 wonderful years together. Woody was a devoted member of the Knights of Columbus: Holy Child Council # 3532 in Gloucester Township and was a parishioner with Ann at Our Lady of Hope Parish: St. Agnes R.C. Church. He enjoyed and loved to ride his Harley-Davidson Motorcycles and his Catholic faith and family were most important in his life.
Relatives, friends, Boilermaker Union brothers from Local # 28 and Brother Knights of Columbus members are kindly invited to attend his viewing at Saint Mary’s R.C. Church: 426 Monmouth Street, Gloucester City from 9:45 am to 11:45 am with Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12 Noon. Interment with U.S. Marine Corps Military Honors at New Saint Mary’s Cemetery, Bellmawr. There will be No Viewing at McCann – Healey Funeral Home.
Family requests in lieu of flowers, memorial donations to Saint Mary’s R.C. Church: 426 Monmouth Street, Gloucester City, NJ 08030. Please write in memo: Woodrow A. Dooley, Jr.
Condolences and Memories may be shared at www.mccannhealey.com under the obituary of Woodrow A. Dooley, Jr. Funeral Arrangements and Inquiries through: McCANN–HEALEY FUNERAL HOME, Gloucester City Ph: 856 – 456 – 1142
To send flowers or plant a memorial tree in memory, please visit our flower store.
Funeral Services
Viewing
August
28
Friday
St. Mary’s R.C. Church
426 Monmouth Street, Gloucester City, NJ 08030
9:45 – 11:45 am (Eastern time)
Mass
August
28
Friday
St. Mary’s R.C. Church
426 Monmouth Street, Gloucester City, NJ 08030
12:00 – 1:00 pm (Eastern time)
Interment
August
28
Friday
New St. Mary’s Cemetery
515 W. Browning Road, Bellmawr, NJ 08031
1:30 – 1:45 pm (Eastern time)
Celebrating The Life Of
Woodrow A. Dooley, Jr. “Woody”View Book
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‹ Return to Current Obituaries
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IN LOVING MEMORY OF
WOODROW A.
DOOLEY, JR. “WOODY”
NOV 14, 1946 — AUG 22, 2026
LAUREL SPRINGS
Send FlowersPlant a TreeSend a CardSend a Gift
Obituary
On August 22, 2026, Age 79. Of Laurel Springs and formerly of Gloucester City and Woodbury Heights. Loving and devoted husband of 14 years to Ann R. Dooley (nee Grayo) and her son and caregiver, Daniel (Angela) Orbanus. Predeceased by his first wife, Gloria Jean Dooley (nee Walters), survived by his partner and companion, Catherine Lafferty and survived by his former wife, Eve Dooley (nee Feltman). Predeceased by his beloved parents: Woodrow A. Dooley, Sr. and Catherine Theresa Dooley (nee Cunningham). Survived by his cherished children: Colleen (William) Casey, Woodrow A. (Jennifer) Dooley, III, Dr. Daniel J. (Stephanie) Dooley, Theresa (Edward Elwell) Dooley and Joseph Dooley. Predeceased by his first child, Gloria L. Dooley and predeceased by his sisters: Veronica Kent and Catherine Dooley. Adored grandfather of Desirae Maria Dooley, Danica Abigail Dooley, Delaney Katherine Dooley, Daniel J. Dooley, Jr., Emilia Claire Dooley, William G. Casey, Jr., Cailin Jean Casey and Cristina Elena (Ian Woolridge) Mayers. Loving Great-grandfather of Addalyn Dooley, Anthony Martinez, Bass Woolridge, Sabine Woolridge, Ian Woolridge, Jr. and Jaxtyn Chase Casey. Dear brother of Mary (Joe) Pollock and Nancy Fenton. Survived by many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins.
Woodrow was known to all who knew him as “Woody” and was born in Camden City, NJ. He was raised in Gloucester City and attended and graduated from Gloucester Catholic High School Class of 1964. Woody proudly served our country and entered the U.S. Marine Corps where he was honorably discharged as a Private. His love of country continued upon coming home to enter the respected Boilermaker Union Local # 28 in 1965 and was named Business Agent for Local # 28 from 1981 to 1987.
Woody was a longtime and devoted parishioner of Saint Mary’s R.C. Church in Gloucester City and in 1981 moved from Gloucester City to Woodbury Heights. He became active in St. Margaret’s R.C. Church in Woodbury Heights where he faithfully served as a Eucharistic Minister. In 2012, Woody reconnected with his current wife, Ann who was his classmate at Gloucester Catholic High School and they laughed and had 14 wonderful years together. Woody was a devoted member of the Knights of Columbus: Holy Child Council # 3532 in Gloucester Township and was a parishioner with Ann at Our Lady of Hope Parish: St. Agnes R.C. Church. He enjoyed and loved to ride his Harley-Davidson Motorcycles and his Catholic faith and family were most important in his life.
Relatives, friends, Boilermaker Union brothers from Local # 28 and Brother Knights of Columbus members are kindly invited to attend his viewing at Saint Mary’s R.C. Church: 426 Monmouth Street, Gloucester City from 9:45 am to 11:45 am with Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12 Noon. Interment with U.S. Marine Corps Military Honors at New Saint Mary’s Cemetery, Bellmawr. There will be No Viewing at McCann – Healey Funeral Home.
Family requests in lieu of flowers, memorial donations to Saint Mary’s R.C. Church: 426 Monmouth Street, Gloucester City, NJ 08030. Please write in memo: Woodrow A. Dooley, Jr.
Condolences and Memories may be shared at www.mccannhealey.com under the obituary of Woodrow A. Dooley, Jr. Funeral Arrangements and Inquiries through: McCANN–HEALEY FUNERAL HOME, Gloucester City Ph: 856 – 456 – 1142
To send flowers or plant a memorial tree in memory, please visit our flower store.
Funeral Services
Viewing
August
28
Friday
St. Mary’s R.C. Church
426 Monmouth Street, Gloucester City, NJ 08030
9:45 – 11:45 am (Eastern time)
Mass
August
28
Friday
St. Mary’s R.C. Church
426 Monmouth Street, Gloucester City, NJ 08030
12:00 – 1:00 pm (Eastern time)
Interment
August
28
Friday
New St. Mary’s Cemetery
515 W. Browning Road, Bellmawr, NJ 08031
1:30 – 1:45 pm (Eastern time)
Celebrating The Life Of
Woodrow A. Dooley, Jr. “Woody”View Book
A beautifully bound keepsake book filled with memories and condolences from family and friends.
Share Your Memory
Contribute your memory to the online guestbook to be featured in this unique keepsake book.Share Your Memory
Guestbook
Visits: 780
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
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====
Dolores R. Raube (née Cleary), 88, of Gloucester City, NJ, passed away peacefully at her home on August 31, 2026. Born in Camden, NJ on July 13, 1938, she was the daughter of the late George Francis Cleary and Mazie E. (née Tucker) Cleary.
Dolores was a graduate of Gloucester Catholic High School (Class of 1956) and went on to earn her Associate’s Degree. A dedicated member of her community, she worked for many years as a teacher’s aide at Gloucester City High School prior to her retirement. Alongside her late husband, Joe, she was a former owner of Gloucester Travel from the late 1990’s to 2004 and loved traveling the world with him throughout their 65 years of marriage.
She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Joseph D. Raube, Sr., and her brother, George Cleary (surviving Shirley).
Dolores is survived by her loving sons: Joseph D. Raube, Jr. (Mary Jo), David Raube (Margo), and Michael Raube; her brother, William Cleary (Connie); her seven cherished grandchildren; and many loving extended family members and friends.
Relatives and friends are invited to her visitation on Saturday, September 12, 2026, from 10:15 to 11:15 a.m. at St. Mary’s R.C. Church, 426 Monmouth St., Gloucester City. Her Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m. Interment will follow in New St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bellmawr.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in memory of Dolores to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org
Condolences and Memories may be shared at www.mccannhealey.com under the obituary of Dolores R. Raube. Funeral Arrangements and Inquiries through McCANN-HEALEY FUNERAL HOME, Gloucester City. Ph:856-456-1142.
photos of Dolores and Joe and of Denise and her husband provided by Denise Guldin
