Dolores Dorer

Dolores Dorer, nee Engelke, age 91, passed away peacefully on January 19, 2026, surrounded by family.

Born on March 3, 1934, in New York City, Dolores was the cherished daughter of Henry and Marie Engelke. She spent her early years in the city and on Long Island alongside her two sisters, Catherine and Rosemarie. Dolores also held especially fond memories of time spent with her five uncles, whose laughter and companionship were a treasured part of her childhood.

Dolores attended Hunter College in New York City and began her career at Buck Consulting. It was there she met Harold “Hal” Dorer, the love of her life. They settled in Montville, New Jersey, and raised their four children—Dave (Marianne), Pam (Rick), Carolanne (Mike), and Alan. While Hal commuted to work in New York City for more than forty years, Dolores devoted herself to her family and home.

Dolores treasured summers at Lake Valhalla and Upstate New York, where she loved spending time with family and enjoying the outdoors. In later years, she and Hal spent time as snowbirds at Sea Colony, Florida.

She was an avid reader and read more than a thousand books. Dolores also loved animals and nature, and she especially cherished her dogs, Jinx and Lady, and her cats, Ginger, Fluffy and Kitty.

In 2017, Dolores moved to Cary, North Carolina, where she was a happy resident of Woodland Terrace and formed many friendships. She was loved by residents and staff for her kind spirit and sense of humor.

Dolores adored her eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She also had close relationships with her nieces and nephews, who affectionately called her “Aunt Lori.” She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the wonderful staff of Woodland Terrace for their compassion, friendship, and dedicated care. Your kindness meant more than words can express and will always be remembered with deep gratitude.

Dolores will be dearly missed, and her memory will be treasured always.

Local services are pending at this time and Dolores will be placed at Arlington National Cemetery next to her husband at a later date.

Memorial tributes and messages of sympathy can be left by clicking the "Add a Memory" box below. Brown Wynne of Cary is honored to serve the Dorer family.