Danielle Tooley

The spirit of Danielle Golove Tooley – beloved disciple, wife, mother, sister, friend, teacher and artist – left us early on February 25, 2016, after outliving ovarian cancer for 2 ½ years. Danielle is survived by her husband, Michael Tooley; children, Samantha, Cameron and Jackson Tooley; sister, Michele Watson; niece and nephews; and hundreds of friends, students, and former students.

A self-described "corporate brat," Danielle was born in Havertown, PA, and moved to various places on both coasts during her childhood while her parents, Philip and Irene Golove, worked their way up the corporate ladder. She earned her education degree at Vanderbilt University in 1988, where she majored in English, was elected President of her sorority, and became Captain of the dance squad for the Commodores basketball team – a position she used to enchant her future husband, Mike, when he was lucky enough to see her perform from the front row of a Vanderbilt-UK basketball game and asked her out on the spot.

Danielle and Mike were married on July 30, 1988, and immediately moved to Durham, NC, where Danielle worked three jobs to support the newly wed couple while Mike attended law school, eventually teaching as a Special Education instructor at Roxboro High School. In May of 1991, Danielle moved with Mike to Indianapolis, where she began teaching English at Decatur Township High School.

Although Danielle took a few years off from teaching while Samantha, Cameron and Jackson were young, she remained a committed educator and felt called to return to the classroom when Traders Point Christian Academy (where her children attended and she had volunteered for years) expanded to launch its high school. At TPCA, Danielle headed the English Department, sponsored the yearbook, and created a jewelry and metalsmithing class in which she shared her remarkable ability to create art with her students. She also started a number of home-based businesses, served on mission trips abroad, and mentored countless students, peers, and friends.

Danielle was a sucker for stray cats and misunderstood students, and prized relationship above all else. She taught her students, family, and friends more than she could possibly imagine both in health and in sickness through her grace, strength, and focus on others even during her own trials. As an artist and a teacher, Danielle did not see mistakes; instead, she described them as "design opportunities" that she could use to make the work better, more interesting, and more real. Danielle followed that same philosophy after she was diagnosed with cancer in July 2013, and spent the remainder of her life determined to make the most of her situation and enrich the lives of others by how she lived her life. She succeeded by any measure.

Danielle was preceded in death by her parents, Phil and Irene Golove, and by her three unborn children with whom she is reuniting now.

Danielle's family will receive friends Sunday, February 28, 2016, from 1:30 – 3:00 pm at Traders Point Christian Church at 6590 South Indianapolis Road, in Whitestown. A celebration of Danielle's life will follow at 3:00 pm with Pastor Aaron Brockett officiating.

Danielle loved fresh flowers but would hate for them to go to waste. So, if you have someone in your life who is loving, kind, and full of faith and grace, please send flowers in her honor to your own "Danielle."

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