Greenfield, MA – Doris Marie (Goguen) Doyle passed away peacefully on April 24, 2026, and has reunited with her beloved husband whom she missed dearly. Doris was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts on March 7, 1939, to Albert and Catherine Goguen. Her remarkable life was marked by early development, both speaking and reading at a very young age, neither of which she stopped doing for the next 87 years. Doris was an extremely intelligent and passionate woman. She was educated in Catholic schools, always interested in helping others, her first calling was nursing. She graduated St. Elizabeth’s nursing school and began her career in nursing, during this time she met the love of her life, William Doyle. They were married on January 1, 1962, shortly after she became a military wife, packing up often and moving all over the country with her growing brood of daughters.
They eventually put down roots in Greenfield, Massachusetts in 1974 to raise their family. A trailblazer for her time, she boldly challenged the traditional homemaker roles expected of women during her era. She decided to further her education and was one of the first women to graduate Smith College’s Ada Comstock program, which was one of the first “non traditional” women’s graduation programs in the country. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Government in 1978. She was a proud Smith College Alumni, but true to form, decided to set her sights even higher. Casually announcing to her family one night over dinner, “I am going to law school at night, you all better learn how to cook quick”. Many people tried to talk her out of it, but she was fierce and driven. She graduated from Western New England school of Law in 1982 with a Juris Doctor degree, less than 10 percent of graduates that year were women, and none with a husband and five children. She passed her Bar Exam and became a licensed member of the Massachusetts Bar Association and a practicing Attorney.
She proudly served the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for 18 years as Clerk Magistrate of Franklin County Superior Court. Aside from being an elected official she avidly served her community in numerous roles. She served on the Board of Greenfield Community College, the Human Rights Commission, the Shea Theater, the Pioneer Valley Symphony, Montague Catholic Social Ministries. She was the Chairperson of the Greenfield School Committee for several years, as well as a founding member of the Greenfield Teen Center. She volunteered for many years at the Community Meal, serving food to the less fortunate. She was extremely generous and would donate her time and money to any cause she felt worthy, a true humanitarian. Doris was a member of Reinventing Justice Collaboration Board.
She loved traveling, the Red Sox, vacations in Maine, and crossword puzzles. She had a unique style and a keen eye for interior decorating, fashion, and artwork. She leaves behind her five daughters, Jayne Trosin (Michael), Joyce Doyle (John), Jeremy Johnston (John), Jacquelyn Doyle, and Janis Doyle (Gary). She also leaves behind her beloved eight grandchildren, Matthew Trosin (Zoe), Courtney Shanahan (Michael), Jack Trosin, Kiera and Ryan Johnston, Savannah Donahue (Jacob) and Riley and Ricky Smith. Three great grandchildren (Hazel, Summer and Henry) as well as two sisters, Mary Hazel and Patricia Galvin and several nieces and nephews.
It is difficult to sum up her entire amazing life, adventures in a few short paragraphs. Her life can be summed up with a quote from her favorite Frank Sinatra song. “I lived a life that’s full, I’ve traveled each and every highway, more, much more than this, I did it MY way”
A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be held Saturday 5/2 at 10:30am at Holy Trinity Church, 133 Main Street, Greenfield. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Greenfield.
A calling hour will be held Saturday morning from 9-10am at the Kostanski Funeral Home, 220 Federal Street, Greenfield.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Franklin County’s YMCA, 451 Main Street, Greenfield, MA 01301 or to the charity of the donor’s choice.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Kostanski Funeral Home. For condolences, please visit www.kostanskifuneralhome.com.
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