Mary Ann (Dwan) Borla

Mary Ann (Dwan) Borla, 82, of Torrington, CT, peacefully passed away on Monday, June 13, 2022, at her home.  She was the beloved wife of William “Bill” C. Borla for 59 years.

Mary Ann was born April 12, 1940, in Torrington, CT, the eldest child of the late George and Mary (McGrath) Dwan.  Mary Ann attended St. Francis School, was a graduate of Torrington High School Class of 1958, and received her bachelor’s degree from the Catholic University of America, and her master’s degree in education from the University of Hartford. Along with raising a family of four children, she worked as a high school Latin teacher for several school districts.

An active community member, Mary Ann served on the Torrington Board of Education for many years, both as a member and as Torrington’s first female chairman, determining the official title hence forth would be ‘Madame Chairman’ upon taking the leadership position. She was an excellent wife, a fiercely supportive mother, a wise, loving grandmother, a devoted sister and aunt, and a fun, loyal friend.

Mary Ann was a voracious reader and daily visitor to the Torrington Public Library.  To family, she was known as “MKA” for ‘Mom Knows All.’ She was so well informed across so many topics that she served as many people’s most trusted source of information long before, and even after, Google. She quickly completed the New York Times crossword puzzles in ink daily.  Her intellect may have been perceived as intimidating, if not for the Irish wit and salty language she used to make her well-informed opinions known. She was a life-long Democrat, fully engaged in political commentary and letter writing as an engaged citizen. Her quiet generosity touched many people through frequent, under the radar, kind gestures. Her insight, wit, wisdom will be missed by many as will her visits, lunches and ‘checking in’ phone chats.

Mary Ann married her high school sweetheart, Bill, in 1962 and kept him hopping, running and laughing for nearly 60 years.  She made education a priority for her children, inflicting summer school typing classes and grammar tutoring with the best of intentions while later guiding college and life choices with sage, yet sometimes unsolicited, advice.  She researched and found the best public school special education programs and eventually residential support for her daughter with special needs, Wendy. She loved spending time with family and reveled in all family vacations that did not include camping in Wildwood, NJ, Cape Cod, MA, Block Island and Narragansett, RI.

“Nanny”, as she was affectionately called by her grandchildren, was always ahead of the curve. She found deals on the season’s hottest gear before it was hot with her savvy shopping, loved to share the unique state quarters with them, always focused on the importance of getting a good education, helped each of them understand the value of planning for retirement using Roth IRAs, and was always encouraging their unique accomplishments.  Nanny was actively involved in raising all 5 grandchildren with day long babysitting sessions filled with tasty snacks, stories from her youth and siblings, and funny adventures. Nanny instilled her competitive spirit to help them each always try their best in anything they did.  She always taught them to keep their youthful spirit no matter what age and in one instance, she opted to join them and leave a tour of a museum to head to the snack bar because the tour was “boring”.  Nanny was fond of lunch dates with her grandchildren, loved to talk to them on the phone or in person, and even learned to text and email with the best of them.  She enjoyed singing songs daily and talking to her grand fur-babies, Murphy and Stella, on the phone or by leaving a message for them on the machine.

In addition to her husband, Bill, she is survived by three children: Tracy Kirk (Michael) of Southbury, CT, Cathy McQuade (Joseph) of Portland, CT, Peter W. Borla of Boston, MA; three brothers, Timothy J. Dwan of Lancaster, NY, Terrence C. Dwan of Edisto Island, SC, George E. Dwan, Jr. of Roland Heights, CA; one sister, Clare E. Wylie of Knoxville, TN; five grandchildren, Caitlin, Julia and Nancy McQuade, Taylor and Grayson Borla, as well as several nieces and nephews, and many dear friends.  She was preceded in death by a daughter, Wendy C. Borla on November 16, 2020.

Graveside funeral services will be private.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you donate to Oak Hill, 120 Holcomb Street, Hartford, CT 06112 or at https://oakhillct.org/donate-to-oak-hill/.