Dolores Mary Tobin

Dolly Tobin passed away in Centennial on Friday, May 23, 2025. She was 101 years old.

Dolores Mary Studer was born in Excelsior, Minnesota, the third of nine children born to Raymond and Louise Studer. She moved with her family to Casper, Wyoming in 1940 and attended Natrona County High School for her senior year. After high school, she attended the College of St Catherine in Minnesota and the Colorado State College of Education at Greeley before becoming a third-grade teacher in Casper.

She developed a friendship with a fellow teacher, Peggy Tobin, who introduced Dolly to her brother Peter. Dolly and Pete were married in Casper on July 24, 1951 and enjoyed 56 years of marriage together until Pete’s death on October 27, 2007. Before the wedding, Dolly spent a summer traveling in Europe with her future sister-in-law. They remained close friends until Peggy died in 2018.

After their wedding, Dolly and Pete moved to St Louis where Pete finished medical school and Dolly taught third grade. Their first child Peggy was born in 1952 prior to a move to Denver where Pete began his medical career. They raised seven children, first living in the Park Hill neighborhood (Blessed Sacrament Parish) and then later moving to Southmoor Park (Church of the Risen Christ Parish). They were active members in both parishes, making many great friends with whom they played bridge and golf and went skiing. Family dinners were special times for Dolly and her family, which often included Dolly’s famous chocolate cake on important occasions.

There were many family trips throughout Colorado and Wyoming to Yellowstone, the Tetons, Saratoga and the Flaming Gorge Reservoir. Some of the most fondly remembered vacations were trips to the Bighorn Mountains in Wyoming, where a group of extended family would gather at the “Shamrock Hotel”, a cabin where Pete’s father would summer his sheep. Dolly and Aunt Gert cooked dinner together on a wood-burning stove.

In retirement, Dolly and Pete were adventurous travelers to Europe (Ireland more than once), Asia and Australia, often accompanied by Pete’s brothers, sisters and their spouses.

After Pete died, Dolly moved to the Holly Creek Retirement Community, first in the independent living area and then later in the suites where she had many friends and wonderful, attentive care givers. She enjoyed stitching and painting, continuing her life-long appreciation of beauty and art. She often expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to live at Holly Creek, for her care and for daily visits from family.

Dolly is survived by her sisters Mary Lou Crow of Northfield, MN and Michelle (Philip) Smith of Casper, WY, her brother David Studer of San Diego, CA, and her seven children – Peggy (Jim) Hearne of Cheyenne, WY, Romie Tobin of Fort Collins, Peter (Margaret) Tobin of Centennial, Annie (John) Calcutt of Oro Valley, AZ, Patty Vickery of Parker, Jeanne (Brad) Keefe of Centennial and Paul Tobin of Carlisle, PA. She had 19 grandchildren – Michelle, Kenny, Christopher, Ben, Brady, Meg, Peter, Molly, Annie, Jack, Martha, Brian, Maggie, Sam, Andy, Paul, Kelly, Ryan and Sarah; 20 great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren.

Dolly leaves behind a legacy of a loving, caring mother, a gracious homemaker and a woman of deep faith.

The family will greet visitors on Wednesday, June 11th from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm, followed by a rosary at Horan & McConaty Funeral Home, 5303 E County Line Rd, Centennial, CO. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, June 12th at 11 am at St Thomas More Parish, 8035 S Quebec St, Centennial.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made (in memory of Dolly Tobin) to Holly Creek, a neighborhood of Christian Living Communities, 9570 S Kingston Ct, Suite 300, Englewood, CO 80112.