Dolores Kelleher Riccio went peacefully to the Lord on the afternoon of Sunday, December 9, 2018. She was proceeded in death by her husband Joseph R. Riccio, parents John Joseph Kelleher and Delia (McDonough), and her three older siblings, Austin, Marjorie (Diny) and Sara Ann (Muthardt).
Dolores was born in Chicago, Illinois on March 27, 1920, the daughter of Irish immigrants. She graduated from Frances Parker High School in Chicago in 1938 and the former Chicago Teachers College in 1943, the first college graduate in her family. After graduation, Dolores joined the American Red Cross and was stationed at Camp Chaffee in Arkansas to provide office and administrative assistance during World War II. After the war, she returning to Chicago and was employed at the Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital in Hines, Illinois. Here she taught typing as part of the efforts to educate recovering handicapped veterans with civilian skills.
While stationed at Hines Hospital, she met her future husband Joseph R. Riccio. On September 25, 1948, many friends and family delightfully witnessed their wedding at St. Carthage Catholic Church in Chicago. Together they raised and college educated seven children: Katherine, Mary Margaret, Mary Therese, Delia, Joseph Jr., Dolora, and Rita.
By the mid-1970’s, they had relocated from Chicago to the warmer weather of San Diego, California where they enjoyed many years with newly found friends, an active church life, regular family visits, travel, and continuous views of beautiful Mission Bay and the Pacific Ocean.
Dolores moved to the nearby active retirement community of Wesley Palms in 2011 and to the Nazareth House in San Diego in 2016 where she enjoyed the care of their wonderful staff until her passing. For many, many years Dolores loved her daily walks, quiet reading time, writing letters, eating at her favorite restaurants, and daily afternoon naps. She especially loved visits from her ten grandchildren and two great grandchildren who lovingly referred to her as, “Nonnie”.
Dolores will be missed greatly by her family and friends but, “not to worry”, she will be remembered always by her indelible sayings and pragmatic advice.
A funeral mass will be said in her honor at St. Brigid Catholic Church, 4735 Cass St, San Diego, CA 92109 on Friday, February 15, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. The mass will be followed by a reception and family burial.
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