Obituary for Dolores M. DeCola
NAUGATUCK: Dolores DeCola, age 72 of Naugatuck, entered peaceful rest on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 in St. Mary Hospital, Waterbury, with family by her side. Born in New Haven on December 1, 1950, she was a daughter of the late Anthony and Mae (Avena) DeCola.
A special education teacher for most of her life, Dolores was passionate about her job and truly loved working with children. That love and generosity carried over to all who knew her, either as a Girl Scout leader, her volunteer work for multiple organizations, or affectionately being known as the “neighborhood mom” who everyone loved. Dolores was also very artistic, spiritual, and loved music. She was a published poet in multiple tabletop collectable books and ran her own independent afghan/crochet business from home. For those who knew Dolores, she will be remembered for her gentle courage and strength through many health battles, but especially for her unconditional love for her family and friends.
Survivors include her loving children, Sean VanDeusen of Naugatuck, Christine Sedita and her husband Jack of Prospect, Kim Arbour of Branford, and Andrea Ward of New Haven; 6 cherished grandchildren, Jack, Joshua, Isabella, Ashley and her husband her husband Ryan Voytek, Rachel and Nicole; 2 adored great-grandchildren, Sunny and Luci; siblings, Salvatore DeCola of Wallingford, Rochelle “Rocky” Santangelo of Ivoryton, Joan DeCola-Tetreault of New Haven, and Marie Braziel of Naugatuck, as well as their spouses and many nieces and nephews, and a large extended Italian family.
The family would like to also recognize the individuals who have cared for Dolores and who were viewed as ‘surrogate’ children by her; Shirley Spear, Paul Munko, Jennifer Tully and all of the caregivers who acted as guardian angels for her through the past decade of her life. They brought so much love and joy to her life.
Memorial Services celebrating Dolores’s life will take place at a date and location to be determined. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Ralph E. Hull Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 161 W. Church St., Seymour, CT 06483.
A special education teacher for most of her life, Dolores was passionate about her job and truly loved working with children. That love and generosity carried over to all who knew her, either as a Girl Scout leader, her volunteer work for multiple organizations, or affectionately being known as the “neighborhood mom” who everyone loved. Dolores was also very artistic, spiritual, and loved music. She was a published poet in multiple tabletop collectable books and ran her own independent afghan/crochet business from home. For those who knew Dolores, she will be remembered for her gentle courage and strength through many health battles, but especially for her unconditional love for her family and friends.
Survivors include her loving children, Sean VanDeusen of Naugatuck, Christine Sedita and her husband Jack of Prospect, Kim Arbour of Branford, and Andrea Ward of New Haven; 6 cherished grandchildren, Jack, Joshua, Isabella, Ashley and her husband her husband Ryan Voytek, Rachel and Nicole; 2 adored great-grandchildren, Sunny and Luci; siblings, Salvatore DeCola of Wallingford, Rochelle “Rocky” Santangelo of Ivoryton, Joan DeCola-Tetreault of New Haven, and Marie Braziel of Naugatuck, as well as their spouses and many nieces and nephews, and a large extended Italian family.
The family would like to also recognize the individuals who have cared for Dolores and who were viewed as ‘surrogate’ children by her; Shirley Spear, Paul Munko, Jennifer Tully and all of the caregivers who acted as guardian angels for her through the past decade of her life. They brought so much love and joy to her life.
Memorial Services celebrating Dolores’s life will take place at a date and location to be determined. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Ralph E. Hull Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 161 W. Church St., Seymour, CT 06483.