Dolores's obituary
Dolores passed away on November 14, 2022, at Palm Garden, in Sun City Center, FL. She was born on a farm in Valley Stream, Nassau County, NY, where her immediate family and the extended Montelione family, from Italy, all lived and worked together. When she was of school age, her family relocated to Ridgewood, NY. Dolores attended St. Matthias School and later, St. Joseph High School in Brooklyn. After high school she worked as a secretary in many varied businesses; in the records department at St. Catherine's Hospital, at NY Feather and Down Pillow Company, at Yankee Stadium in the ticket sales office, and then she worked at NY Telephone Company, working her way up to the Executive Assistant for the Vice President. Dolores, being beautiful and glamorous, was recruited by the company to be featured in a media campaign for the all-new colored telephones. It was the first time a phone had been produced that was not black - the new color was Biscuit, and Dolores was the face of the print ads. In return, her family received one of the first Biscuit colored telephones! In 1955, she married her teenage sweetheart, Mike, after he had completed his U.S. Army service tour in Korea. They were young and in love, and had a wonderful time traveling, spending time with friends and family on their boat, and hosting legendary parties in their tiny apartment that had a Murphy bed in the wall. They moved to Glendale, NY where they went on to have two much longed for children, oldest daughter Rita, and much later, to their great surprise and joy, the baby of the family, Kathleen. They successfully raised and launched their girls, and then decided to retire to Florida to enjoy the weather. In Sun City Center, FL, they made friends and took up activities and just generally loved life. In fact, Dolores loved Florida so much, that after her husband passed away, she could not be convinced to return to NY, or to live with Kathleen in TX. In recent years, Dolores was in poor health and was living in a care home where she was safe and comfortable. Dolores is pre-deceased by her husband, Michael J. Cullinane, her parents, John J. Montelione and Louise Baier Montelione, and her brothers, Frank, and John A. Montelione. Dolores is survived by her devoted children, Rita McGarry , and her husband Stephen, and Kathleen Artinian, and her husband Thomas, and by her beloved granddaughters, Kelly, Tracey and Sarah. She is also fondly remembered by several nieces and nephews.
Services will be private. Memorial Donations are welcomed to: https://fundraising.stjude.or…