1940 ~ 2023

Jim Sr. grew up in Billerica and Lowell, and graduated from Lowell High School with the Class of 1959; where he played varsity football.  He founded the Dolan Funeral Home in 1974 with the idea serving the needs of the families of the Merrimack Valley. With sadden hearts, we announce that Jim has passed away on February 11, 2023.  Click here to view his obituary.

Type 3 Funeral Director ~ Owner

Jim grew up living above a funeral home.  He became a Licensed Funeral Director in 1989; celebrating 33 years of service.   He is a 1984 graduate of Central Catholic High School in Lawrence.  He received an Associate Degree in Funeral Service from New England Institute of Boston, MA, a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from University of Lowell, and a Master in Education from Rivier College. Jim taught science grades 7-9 in the Chelmsford Public Schools for eleven years.   He is married to his best friend and the rock of his life, Patrice Anne (Ryan) Dolan.  They have three children, Andrew, Grace and Kathleen “Kay”.  Andrew, who works along side of him at the funeral home.  Grace is a graduate of Johnson & Wales in Providence, RI with a Bachelor in Arts in Media & Communications, and was on the school's equestrian dressage team.  Grace is currently working for Barcami Lane of Westford.  Kathleen is a junior at UConn in the Pathology Biology program, and is on the club track team. Jim enjoys camping and the outdoors as well as travelling.  He loves spending time with his family especially going on vacations with them.

Type 3 Funeral Director ~ Owner

Andrew grew up in Chelmsford playing youth sports.  He graduated from Chelmsford High School with the Class of 2017; where he played varsity football.  Andrew is an Eagle Scout, and as a scout belonged to Troop 74 of the Central Congregational Church in Chelmsford. Andrew attended Mount Ida College in Newton; where he played division 3 football as a freshman.  He was studying business and funeral service; until the school’s closing in May of 2018.  He graduated with an Associate Degree in Funeral Service from Commonwealth Institute of Houston, TX online; while attending at UMass Amherst Isenberg School of Management in pursuit of a Bachelor in Science in Business. Andrew graduated from UMASS Amherst in 2021. He was licensed as a Funeral Director in July 2020.  Andrew is engaged to Jessica Mathis of Chelmsford with an August wedding planned.  Andrew enjoys spending time with friends.  He is an avid outdoorsman, and enjoys hiking and camping in his free time.  He is a devoted New England Patriots and Boston Celtics fan. Andrew is the third generation in the family business.

Type 6 Funeral Director ~ Full Time

Dennis was raised in York Beach, Maine and graduated from York High School.  While in high school, he would spend his summers working in funeral service to get experience.  He enjoyed the experience and graduated from SUNY Canton for Mortuary Science.  He became a licensed funeral director in 1999. Dennis has worked part time with the Dolan Funeral Home since being licensed and full time since May 2013. Dennis enjoys the variety of religion, culture, traditions and nontraditional services he has experienced over the years.  When Dennis is not at work, he enjoys spending time with his beautiful wife and boys.  He enjoys skiing, riding, hiking, and vacationing in the New Hampshire White Mountains, and Colorado.  He volunteers for the local Scouts of America, and Youth Basketball.  In his free time Dennis can be found at Tewksbury Sports Club; where he has been a long time regular gym enthusiast, and occasionally at the Spindell Barbell Club in Lowell.

Type 6 Funeral Director ~ Full Time

Michael was born in Boston and raised in Chelmsford.  He graduated from Chelmsford High School with the class of 2018.  Michael started to work part time with the Dolan Funeral Home in the summer of 2019, and transitioned to full time in the fall of 2021.  Michael graduated in December, 2022 from Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service of Houston, TX, with an Associate Degree in Funeral Service.  He became a licensed Type 6 Funeral Director in February 2023.  He is a member of the Lowell Sportsman Club in Chelmsford.  Michael enjoys spending his free time with his friends and family, going snowboarding in the winter, fishing in the summer and taking his dog Mia on walks.

Type 6 Funeral Director

Fred is a fourth-generation Funeral Director and Certified Preplanning Consultant with 42 years of funeral service experience, serving the families of Greater Lowell for his entire career.  Fred joined the Dolan Funeral Home team in January 2023. He previously owned and operated the Morse-Bayliss Funeral Home in Lowell as well as the J. A. Healy Sons Funeral Home in Westford.  Fred graduated from Groton Country Day School in 1972 and graduated from Saint John's Prep in Danvers in 1976. He furthered his education at New England Institute of Applied Sciences in Boston. Fred is married to Janis L. Healy and they have three children, Jordan T. Healy, Lauren C. Joyce and her husband Justin and Andrew J. Healy and his partner Alexus and two grandsons, Asa Frederick and Callum Joyce. He enjoyes spending time at the Cape and is a self proclaimed, expert salt water angler.

Apprentice ~ Full Time

David joined Dolan Funeral Home at the beginning of 2023. After spending over twenty five years in the consumer electronics industry, he decided it was time for a change.  He graduated from the Funeral Service program at Cape Cod Community College in the spring of 2022 and is a member of Pi Sigma Eta the National Morticians Fraternity.

David lives in Haverhill with his wife, daughter, and two dogs.  He is a member of Merrimack Lodge F.& A.M. and the Aleppo Shriners.  In his spare time, David enjoys music (especially jazz & blues), movies (documentaries & independent films), and books.  He looks forward to becoming a licensed funeral director.

Apprentice ~ Full Time

Stephen was born and raised in Chelmsford. In 2014 Stephen moved to California then later returned in 2016.  He graduated from Chelmsford High School with the class of 2022.  At Chelmsford High Stephen was a Section Leader in the marching band and concert band.  He participated in various youth sports in town.  Stephen is looking forward to attending Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service in September, 2024.

Stephen started working part time at the Dolan Funeral Home in September of 2022 and transitioned to full time in the spring of 2023. In his free time, you can find Stephen riding his motorcycle around town, spending time with his friends and family playing cards and board games or going on hikes and camping trips in the White Mountains in New Hampshire.

Apprentice ~ Full Time

Chris was born in Lowell, MA and raised in Pepperell MA. He went to North Middlesex Regional High School and graduated with the class of 2020. Chris joined the Dolan Funeral Home in February 2022.  In May 2023, Chris became a licensed NH Barber and in 2024.  He finished his EMT training program with PrideStar Trinity EMS in Lowell, MA.  Chris enjoys the funeral profession; where he is able to help people in need.  In his free time Chris enjoys fishing in the summer, spending time with friends and family especially his beautiful niece, Everleigh and watching the New England Patriots and Boston Celtics.   

Office Manager ~ Full Time

Cathy was raised in Scranton, PA, and is one of four children.  She graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a B.S. in Early Childhood Development.  Cathy worked for eight years as an administrative assistant in the trade magazine publishing industry before marrying her husband, Fred moving to Chelmsford, and raising their son, Christopher.  Aside from volunteering in local school and church communities, she also worked part-time as a substitute teacher in the Chelmsford Public Schools. Cathy was the Coordinator for the RISE Program at Rivier University in Nashua, NH.  In the fall of 2021, she joined the wonderful team at Dolan Funeral Home as Office Manager, supporting the funeral directors in all aspects of their service to families.  Outside of work, Cathy enjoys exercise, reading, cooking for her family, drawing, watercolor painting, and traveling with her husband.  She currently volunteers as Treasurer for the St. Vincent de Paul Society at St. John the Evangelist Church in Chelmsford. 

Office Manager ~ Part Time

Betty was raised in Chelmsford, and graduated from Chelmsford High School in 1974.  Betty joined Dolan Funeral Home in August 2020.  Before working for Dolan Funeral Home, Betty worked for the Lowell Sun for over 45 years.  She was married for 42 years to the late James “Jim” Bukala who died on August 20, 2021.  Betty has a daughter, Jennifer Fletcher and son-in-law, Thomas Fletcher, 3 grandchildren Benjamin, Emily and Lily Fletcher who she adores.  Betty enjoys relaxing at the beach and spending time with her family and friends.

Funeral Director Attendant ~ Part Time

Jeff has been employed as a funeral director attendant with Dolan Funeral Home since 2017. Jeff grew up in Tewksbury and is 1971 graduate of Tewksbury Memorial High School. He graduated from Merrimack College in 1975 with a degree in English Education. He earned his Masters Degree from UMass Lowell in Secondary Administration in 1994. Jeff taught English at Parker Junior High School in Chelmsford for three years, before moving to Chelmsford High School; where he taught English for sixteen years. He became Emerson House Dean at CHS in 1995, and served in that position until he retired in June of 2014. During his time at CHS, he twice served as a Class Advisor, coached Junior Varsity Softball and Junior Varsity Girls’ Indoor Track, Soccer and Tennis.

Since retirement, Jeff had taught English at Nashua Community College for six years. Jeff currently serves on the Town of Chelmsford School Committee. He has also worked diligently on his tennis and golf games with absolutely no noticeable improvement in either sport. He enjoys reading, napping and spending time with his wife Patty and his adult children Bridget and Patrick.

Funeral Director Attendant ~ Part Time

As a teacher, he makes kids feel good about themselves so that they could be great in whatever they want to do. Mr. Hunt puts a smile on the faces of the folks he meets, so they can feel happier. It has been said that a cheerful outlook can make dreams come true – it did for him! Being born and growing up in the back woods of East Chelmsford, he was blessed with positive teachers and supportive people and family members. They showed that a farm boy offered a four-year Town of Chelmsford scholarship to Lowell State (U Mass Lowell) could graduate with a biology degree. This was the groundworks of an unbelievable journey that led him to provide unbelievable adventures for Chelmsford 7^th graders in Life Science. Dreams do come true when his creative teaching established recognition as Massachusetts Biology Teacher of the Year. His wife Yvette and three kids, Ryan, Denise, and Julie are happy and grateful for the people and events that demonstrate hard work and determination can achieve incredible things. How else can you explain how this retired man can pedal his bike one hundred miles in less than eight hours! (Century event) Jim Dolan and family are such friends that offered Dennis the rewarding opportunity to work at Dolan Funeral Home. How could this be? Surely his antics and comedian nature would not be a good fit for such solemn occasions. It was their faith in Saint Francis who said…. Where there is despair, hope…. Where there is darkness, light… But more importantly…. Where there is sadness, JOY. Come join us at Dolan Funeral Home and we will guide your family in creating a meaningful ceremony to honor the life and memory of a loved one.