Barbara D. “Dolly” Markess, 94, of Brightwaters, New York, formerly of New Brighton, passed away on November 10th, 2026.
She was born in East Rcohester on May 22nd, 1932, a daughter of the late Tomas M. and Barbara M. (Kirin) Markess.
Barbara will be remembered for her dedication to nursing, her commitment to education, and her many years of service to the healthcare community.
She graduated from New Brighton High School with its Class of 1950. She continued her education at Geneva College and Duquesne University to prepare for a lifelong career in nursing and healthcare. She was a registered nurse and earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Duquesne University. She taught at the Rochester School of Nursing and served as director of maternal child health.
However, she dedicated much of her professional life to Beaver Valley Medical Center, which was where she served as a clinical nurse and became an important part of the hospital’s administration. In addition to her clinical and administrative responsibilities, she shared her knowledge and experience with future generations of nurses as an instructor. Her commitment to nursing education and patient care also extended to Providence Care Center, where she continued to make a difference through her work and dedication. She was also the Director of Maternal Health care at Beaver Valley Medical Center.
Her professional accomplishments reflect a lifetime of compassion, leadership, and dedication. Her influence extended beyond the many patients she cared for to the nurses she taught, mentored, and inspired throughout her career.
After retiring from her administrative position at Beaver Valley Medical Center, she worked in home care and cared for both of her aging parents.She loved to travel and meet her relatives around the world. She enjoyed being involved with her Croatian heritage. She was passionate about Croatian culture, as well as learning the language, dancing, and listening to the music. She belonged to the Croatian Kolo ensemble and performed with them internationally.
She had a true calling to help others. She always put others above herself. She treated her nieces and nephews as if they were her own children and was very involved in their lives.
She is survived by her sister, Pauline, her cousins, Paul (Carolyn), Michael, and Veronica (Mitchel) Kirin, her nieces and nephews: Christi Attisani, Sue (Hunt) Lyman, Michael (Monica) Attisani, and David (Christina) Attisani; as well as her grandnieces and grandnephews: Benjamin, Luke, Gabrielle, Bryce, Nicolas, Christian Attisani, and Christian Lyman.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her godson, Dominick Attisani.
Friends will be received on Monday, November 16th, from 11:30 a.m. until the time of prayers at 12:30 p.m. in J&J Spratt Funeral Home, Inc., 1612 Third Avenue, New Brighton, who was in charge of her arrangements. A Mass of Christian burial will follow at Our Lady of the Valley Parish, Holy Family Church, 521 7th Avenue, New Brighton, on Monday, November 16th at 1 p.m.
She will be laid to rest beside her parents in St. Joseph Cemetery, 1501 1st Avenue, New Brighton.
