Obituary of Carolyn Dougherty

Carolyn (Wilder) Dougherty, 99, of Silver Creek, NY passed away peacefully on Thursday evening, February 24, 2022 at St. Columban’s on the Lake Retirement Home in Silver Creek.

She was born in January of 1923, in Silver Creek, NY one of 11 children of the late Thomas and Jennie (Fadale) Militello.

Carolyn graduated from Silver Creek Central School in 1941.  She continued her education at Buffalo State Teachers’ College in Buffalo, NY where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree in Education. She taught thousands of students and enjoyed her career as a home economics teacher in three school systems, Clymer (1945-1947), Forestville (1950-1963) and Silver Creek (1963-1979). She was a senior class adviser for several years at Silver Creek High School. She was married to the late Norris Ray Wilder (1946-1966) and the late Richard Dougherty (1974-1996). She is a past president of the former Silver Creek Business and Professional Women’s Club, where she was the “Woman of the Year” in 1979.

Carolyn was lifelong area resident and member of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel RC Church in Silver Creek.  She served as a Eucharistic Minister for many years. When asked about the secret to her long life, she said to be kind, stay active and a good diet. She was always very interested in health and nutrition, the study of foods and their use and benefit to our body. She enjoyed sewing, knitting and was an excellent cook. 

Surviving are two sons, David (Carol) Wilder of Haymarket, VA and James “Jay” (Laura Linneball) Wilder of Orchard Park, NY; eight cherished grandchildren, W. Alan (Suzanne) Wilder, Wendy Hare, Jennifer (Geoffrey) Green, Kimberly (Clay) Bartlett, Christina and Daniel Wilder, Dayna (Jayson) Snyder and Michael Wilder; twelve great-grandchildren, William, Chester, Rebecca, Anna, Samson, Tyler, Grayce, Raegan, Silas, Hayden, Ryan, and  Jake; four step-daughters, Sheila Duino of Derby, NY, Jane (Sam) Tramuta, Ann (Kevin) Glapa, and Deborah (Angelo) Zappie and a step-son, Richard (Patricia) Dougherty Jr.  all of Dunkirk, NY. She was also blessed with 15 step-grandchildren, Michelle Baumgarden, Craig Duino, Linda Duino, Diann Duino, Tracy Bolvard, Pamela Duino (deceased), Melissa Hoffner, Michael Dougherty, Jeffrey Tramuto, Kevin Tramuto, Brian Glapa, Eric Glapa, Karen Jaquith, Richard Zappie, and Angelo AJ Zappie.

In addition to her parents and her two husbands, Carolyn was preceded in death by a son John Wilder.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, March 5, 2022 at Our Lady of Mt Carmel RC Church at 10 AM. The family suggests contributions in memory of Carolyn to the St. Columban’s Retirement Home on the Lake, 2546 Lake Road, Silver Creek, NY.  A Celebration of Life will be scheduled for July. 

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Hole-Parker Funeral Chapel, 160 Central Ave. Silver Creek, NY.

Please share condolences at www.holeparkerfc.com.