Obituary of Dolores Kathryn Russomano
Dolores Kathryn Russomano of North Caldwell, NJ passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, following a short illness. She was 79.
Born in Glen Ridge, NJ in December 1944 to Mathew and Kathryn (Young) Kent, Dolores grew up on Personette Street in Caldwell. Known as “Lolly” in her younger days, she graduated from St. Aloysius Elementary School in 1958 and from James Caldwell High School in 1962. Later she attended Union College in New Providence.
Dolores was a talented dancer and proudly performed in the recitals at the Hines Sisters Dance School. A twirler at JCHS, she was known for her smile and beautiful dimples. Outgoing and friendly, Dolores had a close-knit group of friends to go to Grunings with and ice skate at Grover Cleveland Park.
She was a dedicated and professional Executive Secretary for over 50 years, aiding the Presidents of local corporations for most of her career: Beneficial Finance, Curtis Wright, Sun Dial & Panel Corp, Tropar Trophy Inc., Fagersta Steel Co./Avesta Stainless Inc., and Compensating Tension Controls, Inc., while also owning and operating a commercial cleaning service. She retired as a secretary in 2012 from the Caldwell-West Caldwell Board of Education.
During her well-deserved retirement, Dolores enjoyed spending time at her family home in Vermont visiting with her cousins and friends, as well as photography, sewing, and various crafts. She loved to meet her friends for lunch and dinner, keeping in touch with so many of them, from grade school, high school and most of her jobs.
Dolores was a collector and delighted in her large Christmas village, cut glass, antiques and her treasured pig collection. She competed with her son-in-law finishing jigsaw puzzles and relaxed doing adult coloring books. Dolores was passionate about the color purple, whether it be clothing or flowers in her backyard garden. She became a fan of birds later in life and was so entertained watching them at the feeders outside her kitchen window. Dolores loved having the family over and you couldn’t have a birthday without a dinner and cake. She was an enthusiastic grandmother and adored babies. Everyone and everything deserved a celebration and we will miss her so much.
Dolores loved listening to music, especially Elvis Presley, anything from the 50’s, Anne Murray, the Judds and the old-time country artists. A devoted soap opera fan, she would tape her shows while at work to watch at night. Dolores could tell you all about the characters and their misdeeds, especially Victor Newman from The Young & the Restless! She liked to travel and visited many states in the U.S. and other beautiful places like Montreal, Bermuda, Hawaii, England, Freeport, and Mexico.
Dolores is survived by her beloved husband, James P. Russomano; her cherished children, Kelly Coad Carey, her husband Thomas and her son, John S. Torchia; Tracy Turney, her husband Aaron, and their children, Mae and Jack; and Thomas Russomano, his wife Lisa, and their daughters, Noelle and Callie; her niece, Erin Kent; her nephew, Matt Kent, his wife Sara and his daughter, Star Kent Finnegan; her brother-in-law, Barry Russomano, his wife Laura, their children Gina Russomano and Nic Russomano, and their grandchildren, the little great nieces, Rose Pressler and Ella James Russomano.
She was predeceased by her parents, her brothers and their wives, Samuel M. Kent (Carol) and David P. Kent (Maureen); and her stepson, Scott Russomano.
Services were private and provided by Codey Funeral Home of Caldwell. Donations in her memory to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or Genesis Farm in Blairstown, NJ would be most appreciated. To share a condolence or memory, please visit CodeyFuneralHome.com.
