Saturday April 21, 2018, at their home in Heritage Village, Southbury, CT.
Dolores was a loving wife, mother and friend. They were married in1946 in New Rochelle, NY while Ray was on active duty and in his Navy uniform. Dolores joked how her husband enjoyed their honeymoon while his ship was in Hawaii. She loved cooking and they would have fun competing in the kitchen as she enjoyed venturing into gourmet style while he stuck to traditional Italian style.
Dolores retired in 1977 from the Union Trust Bank in Danbury, as a safe deposit clerk. She retired to help in the family business The Don’s Pizza restaurant on Mill Plain Road, Danbury. They enjoyed themselves with an active life entertaining, playing tennis, golf, duck pin bowling, dancing, and traveling. Their most treasured travels were to Europe where they reconnected to distant family.
She leaves behind her loving husband Ray of 72 years and their three children; Linda Fusco (Anthony), of Brookfield CT, David DonFrancesco (Bonnie) of New Milford, CT, and Diane Haggas (Gary) of Brookfield, CT. Their eight grandchildren; Corrie, Christopher, Keith, Aimee, Gary, Amanda, Zachary and Valaree, and six great grandchildren; Angelina, Nico, Lilliana, Gabriella, Grayson and Sophia.
After selling the business they retired to Westerly, Rhode Island where they were members of the Westerly yacht club. Inviting family to events hosted by the club, dinner parties, dances and barbecues. Visiting Santa at the club was a favorite with the grandchildren. Dolores enjoyed swimming, shuffleboard, concerts on the beach, and playing cards with their friends. They moved back to Connecticut to be closer to their family in 2007.
We will be celebrating her life Friday, May 4, 2018 at St. Joseph Church in Brookfield, CT at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Dolores’s name to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.