Bolan, Frances Gwendolyn “Gwen” March 20, 1940 - April 14, 2025

Frances Gwendolyn “Gwen” Bolan passed away peacefully in her home on April 14, 2025. Gwen was the cherished wife of D. Cletus ‘Clete’ Bolan (pre-deceased 2021) with whom she shared 57 years of love and adventures. Mother of Nancy E. Bolan (m. to Scott P. Campbell, 1999) and Claire M. Bolan (m. to Paul McNeice, 2016), Gwen’s other great loves and joy were her three Bolan-Campbell granddaughters: LilyClaire, Julia, and Sophie and her siblings Monica Aldine McFadden (m. to Tom McFadden) and George Dowdall (m. to Jean Dowdall). Gwen was a bright spirit, making friends wherever she went, from Astoria, NY and Parkway West in Mt Vernon, to people she met on her many travels. She cherished her best friends from Astoria, Bill Baumann, who she saw regularly in Manhattan, Gary Tankard, Ed Flanagan, Maureen Golden and many more.

Gwen was a lover of animals, art, travel, politics, New York City, Peconic Bay and Nantucket Island, where she and Clete spent many summers sharing their many blessings with family and friends.

Gwen was born on March 20^th, 1940, heralding the beginning of spring, to George W and Monica Dowdall in Astoria, Queens where she was a regular parishioner of Our Lady of Mt. Caramel Church. Gwen attended Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School, St Angela Hall High School in Brooklyn, and Marymount Manhattan College (‘61). Gwen taught Social Studies for non-English students at Junior High School 141 in Astoria from 1961 – 1994. She then transitioned to a very successful career in real estate in Bronxville, NY at Park Sterling Realty until 2020.

In Lieu of Flowers contributions in Gwen’s memory may be made to:

1. Sisters of St Joseph

Please donate here: https://brentwoodcsj.org/ways-to-give/donate-online/

Donations in Gwen’s memory can also be mailed to:
Sisters of St. Joseph, Brentwood
Mission Advancement
1725 Brentwood Road
Brentwood, NY 11717 

2. Wildlife Conservation Society (Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo..)

Online by following this link: https://secure.wcs.org/donate/make-tribute-gift?_ga=2.251805835.304395864.1601915185-1322935739.1595267424

OR call our donor services team to donate by credit card over the phone at 718-741-1654

OR mail a check to the below address and include Gwen’s name along with the donation.
Wildlife Conservation Society
Attention: Global Resources
2300 Southern Blvd
Bronx, NY  10460 

3. Channel Thirteen – PBS

https://give.thirteen.org/a/25dpo_main_a?source=ALW13WS01Z0A&ms=25Apr_DPO_Control_1&_gl=1*1cqo25d*_gcl_au*MTkxMTkwODE5My4xNzQ2MDYxNzQ1LjE3MjcxNzM4MTAuMTc0NzMyNDYyNC4xNzQ3MzI0NzQy*_ga*MTAwOTAyNTQwMS4xNzQ2MDYxNzQ1*_ga_80E7HVTPB8*czE3NDc5MjY1NDIkbzckZzAkdDE3NDc5MjY1NDIkajAkbDAkaDA