Dolores M. (Vivier) Quirbach

Dolores M. (Vivier) Quirbach passed away peacefully at the age of 88, on April 4, 2024, with her children by her side, after a 12 year battle with Alzheimer's. She is deeply missed by her loving family.  

Dolores "Dolly" was born April 19, 1935 to the late Arthur and Annette (Albert) Vivier with the birth name of Mary Annette Dolores Vivier. Dolores was a native French speaker and learned English as a young girl in the St. Joseph's schools in Lowell, graduating from St. Joseph's High School in 1954. That same year she was crowned Miss Pollard Teena, a local beauty pageant, wearing a navy blue dress with gold buttons, following in her mother's footsteps, a former Miss Lowell. She loved to ice skate and would talk of the beautiful ice skating dresses her grandmother made her. Following high school she considered becoming a nun, but ultimately put herself through secretarial school while working at the Boston Confectionary Candy Store, graduating in 1956.  After graduation she worked for Cloutier Television as a secretary and bookkeeper until they closed a few years later.  

In 1958 she married Robert H. Quirbach and a year later started her family. Above all, Dolores was a proud mother of 10 children, who were her greatest pride and accomplishment.  She dedicated her whole life to them, unselfishly giving all her love, energy and time to instill Catholic values and family love to each of them. She created fun family traditions that continue to be passed down to the next two generations, who know her lovingly as Grandma Dolly.  Although she spent her days feeding, cleaning and playing with babies, her appearance was always immaculate, a true fashion plate down to the jewelry and matching pocketbooks. She was an outstanding cook and baker, perhaps from necessity.  Her cooking abilities and her exceptionally strong faith made the perfect combination for her work as a chef for the priests at St. Margaret's Church.  Other part time jobs included waitressing at the Parimount Lounge in Lowell and Greenridge Turkey Farm in Nashua. She was known for her positive motherly wisdom by saying "Enjoy when your babies are up in the middle of the night for feedings or sickness.  It's the only time you have lone with that one child".  Comforting words from a mother of ten.  Insightfully she would also say " Don't pass up time with others, your house work will always be waiting for you".  Her career was being a Mom, her travel was to and from her children's activities and homes and her hobby was thinking of new ways to make life enjoyable for all of us. Gramma Dolly had an endless supply of kisses, both real and chocolate, for her grandchildren and beautiful songs in French for her great grandchildren. She enjoyed window shopping, growing her hanging flowering plants, church outings, festivals, concerts with her friends and going to Broadway plays. Her one true zen was the beach-Hampton Beach and later in life, Misquamicut RI. Dolores was a lifelong resident of Lowell, taking pride in her family home turning 100 years old in 2020 and being a faithful parishioner of St. Margaret's Church.

In addition to her parents and brother Robert "Bobby" Vivier, she joined her husband of 46 years in heaven.  She is once again reunited with her brilliant son Karl Quirbach and beautiful daughter Dolores "Dodie" Goes Quirbach who she has so terribly missed.  Also greeting her are her beloved Aunt Blanche Albert who physically and emotionally supported her while raising her children and her Uncle "Roddie" Rev. Conrad Quirbach whose spiritual guidance gave her strength.

Remembering her on this earth are her loving family. Eight more children:  Her dedicated and loving son Kurt Quirbach with whom she lived and who meticulously cared for her for the past 12 years, Robert  Quirbach and his wife Diane of Milford NH, Kim (Quirbach) Hogan and her husband Frank of New Canaan CT, Michael Quirbach and his wife Kathy of Hedgesville WV, Mary Quirbach and her husband Chris Harrigan of Medway  MA, Eric Quirbach of Lowell, Conrad Quirbach and his wife Andrea of Redding MA, and Derek Quirbach and his wife Kerri of Lowell. She is also survived by her son-in-law Robert Goes of Pepperell, MA.

Sadly missing their Grandma Dolly are her 21 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren: Rachel and Joe Quirbach; Katie (Hogan) Lacey, her husband Jimmy and their children James, Hailey and Henry; Kristen Hogan, her partner Tim Lacouture and their children Emma, Luke and Ryan; Frank Hogan; Heather (Quirbach) Sinofsky, her husband David and their children Kalman, Sarah and Elijah; Amber (Quirbach) Garcia, her husband Jose and their children Christian, Vivianne and Eleanor; Arwen Quirbach; Patrick, Colin, Liam and Owen Harrigan; Katrina (Quirbach) Roberts, her husband Ken and their daughters Loralei and Lyla;  Elisabeth and Morgen Quirbach; Nichole Goes and her son Weston; Evan, Rebecca and Ryan Goes; Abbey and Connor Quirbach.

She is also survived by her brother Joseph Vivier and his wife Angelina, her sister-in-law Pauline Vivier,  many nieces and nephews and her good friends Anasthesia Sakellaris and Bea and Frank Hogan.

The family would like to thank the staff at Life Care at Merrimack Valley, especially Michelle D. who took the time to curl her hair, which meant so much to her and Tina who involved Mom in many activities that brightened her days.

Relatives and Friends will be received at Tyngsborough Funeral home, 4 Cassaway Drive, Tyngsborough on Monday, April 8, 2024 from 4 to 7 p.m. Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 at 10 a.m. at St. Margaret's Church, 374 Stevens Street, Lowell.  Burial will follow in St. Joseph's Cemetery 96 Riverneck Road, Chelmsford.  

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