Dolores Ann (Avery) Mason received her angel wings on Nov. 30, 2024, in Naples, Florida. She was 83 years old, having just celebrated her birthday with a party with the residents and staff at The Fairways at Naples Memory Care, along with her daughters and her husband and several friends. Born on Nov. 16, 1941, in Washington, D.C to Elmer “Bill” William Avery and Genevieve Dolores “Dee” Finzel, Dolores was known for her warmth, generosity, and the undeniably loving spirit she was blessed with.

Dolores grew up with her two older brothers, the oldest Leonard “Punky” and Donald “Donnie” in Villa Heights, Maryland. Dolores had a close relationship with her mother, who would call Dolores her “Beauty.” In his youthful attempt to repeat this, her brother would call her “Bootie,” which became Dolores’ childhood and teenage nickname.

During the war, Dolores and her brothers spent the summers living with their grandmother, NaNa in Washington, D.C. It was an active household full of laughter that included Great Aunt BB, Great Aunt Vie, Uncle Jack and cousin Larry. Dolores was very close to Larry, who she called her best friend and worshiped her NaNa. After her father returned from the war in 1945, the family move to Cheverly Maryland. While she struggled with the divorce of her parents, she loved her entire family, despite their quirks and stubbornness. She worried about them, rooted for them, protected them, forgave them, and always kept on loving them.

Family meant everything to Dolores, so she was overjoyed when sister-in-law Patricia “Pat” Fox join the family in marrying Len at age 16. As Dolores was a younger teenager, Pat quickly became her best friend and confidante. They were inseparable and did everything together. Dolores considered her four nieces, Debbie, Dawne, Dana, and Dori to be daughters and was always there for them as well as their children.

Dolores was your biggest cheerleader, which was no wonder as she was one in high school, and even coached her nieces during their childhood. After graduating from Bladensburg High School, Dolores worked as a secretary for United Mine Workers. She married her high school sweetheart, Emmett Molloy. Shortly after giving birth to her daughter Maria, she realized Emmett was not the one.

Thankfully she found the one who would “lasso the moon” for her while working at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. She married Calvin (Cal) Mason, Jr., and gained 2 stepsons, Calvin and Steve and a new nickname, Luvy. She gave birth to Kimi and Michael and enjoyed 59 years of raising a family consisting of both blood ties and bonds formed from the heart.

In 1967, Dolores and Cal moved to Santiago, Chile where Cal worked as a field engineer at NASM’s satellite tracking station. Dolores rose up to the challenge of raising 3 young children in a country where she knew no Spanish. A quick learner and very social person, Dolores made many friends in Chile, with whom she remained in contact until her passing. She also wove together an extended family in Santiago with the Batic Family. 37 years later, Dolores and Cal returned to visit them in Chile and enjoyed several of the Batics visits to Naples, Florida in later years.

Returning to Maryland in 1971, Dolores worked in Prince George’s Education Department as a secretary at Frederick Douglass High School and Largo High School She received her real estate license and joined Cal as a Real Estate Agent for Long & Foster. Together they established themselves as the Mason Team. Ever the cheerleader, Dolores eventually became the Office Manager for Vernon Realtors in Prince George’s County, MD when Cal became a real estate broker.

While still working, Dolores managed to coach softball for the Marlton Boys and Girls League and chauffeuring her children to their many extracurricular activities. And there were a lot of them! Raised as Catholic, Dolores’ faith never wavered even after being excommunicated. She instilled that faith into her children and taught Sunday School at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Croom, Maryland. Dolores embraced everyone and anyone. Her openness and ability to genuinely listen endeared her to those around her. All Dolores’ children’s friends knew her well and confided freely in her. Including neighbors (and their children), who still maintained contact with Dolores after they moved away.

Shortly after losing her mother to cancer, Dolores battled breast cancer. Finding strength in her children and grandchildren, Dolores’ cancer went into remission. She became a big advocate and emotional support volunteer for other women facing breast cancer. With her children’s encouragement, she participated in a Danskin women’s triathlon dedicated to cancer awareness and raising funds for breast cancer research. The fact it was at Disney World and on Mother’s Day was a bonus, including video camera coverage during the race for her one minute to fame featured on Studio 55 NaplesNews.com and the Naples Daily News.

Dolores and Cal retired to Stonebridge in Naples, Florida, where Dolores enjoyed playing in the women’s tennis and golf leagues as well as volunteering at golf tournaments. Ever the socialite, Dolores also enjoyed many events at their country club. She loved to dance, from the jitterbug to the Cueca (Chilean national dance) to line dancing, Dolores would be the last one off the dance floor. Dolores loved to wear hats, shoes, purses and fashion show-off styles to create her own individual look. Sometimes her fashion could be overzealous with patriotic emblems or bright colors, but her hair was always perfectly coiffed, even envied. She certainly went to heaven dancing and in style.

Dolores's pride and joy were her children, which she lived vicariously through. Not a single person when meeting Dolores would leave without learning full details of her children’s accomplishments, or seeing photos of said child. This would carry over to her grandchildren and great grandchildren

If cleanliness is next to godliness, then Dolores glowed in His glory. It was her mission to keep a clean and organized home, office and car as well as a fresh appearance. Should she encounter any space or person with dirt or in disarray, she exercised her discipline with such control, we dared not contradict her. Even her caregivers, Lucia and Leslie, and the nurses at Vitas Hospice Care were amazed at her persistence and stamina in demanding a tidy environment. It was exasperating and never ending, but in hindsight we appreciated her loving attention to details. She taught us honesty, kindness, to always present our best selves and the value of spreading love everywhere you go.

Dolores was one of unyielding kindness and generosity. Even when her memory began to fade, she continued to give and help others. She never faltered in caring for her loved ones more than she did for herself. She touched so many other lives, that her lack of being around certainly leaves a hole. There was nothing she wouldn’t do for her family or friends, always finding joy in giving and helping, whether you asked for it or not. She embodied love with no boundaries. Yes, it could be smothering at times, but it was always given sincerely. Truly she was a mother to us all.

Thankful to spend her last Thanksgiving with her husband, son and stepson and their families, Dolores shared her laughter, quirky humor and keen awareness of who was present with her. Before her next mission as Guardian Angel, Dolores only allowed her husband to touch her or hold her hand in her last days. In her eyes Cal “honey,” was the lead in her Hallmark version of It’s a Wonderful Life movie, or as Cal always called it, her “happy happy.” She ascended at 3am in the morning after receiving her last rites.

"No one loved her more than me and no one loved me more than she did." - Cal Mason

A Celebration of Life for Dolores will take place at Saint Thomas Church in Upper Marlboro, Maryland on June 21, 2025. For further details please reach out to Mike Mason at 301-213-9857. 

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations made in memory of Dolores Ann (Avery) Mason, to Breast Cancer Research Foundation and to Alzheimer's/Dementia Association.

“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou

Dolores was survived by her brothers Leonard Avery and Donald Avery and his wife Betty (Sliger), sister in law Pamela (Yazvac/Abigill) Przywara and her husband RJ Przywara, brother in law Ron Abigill and his wife Carole Hinton and sister in law Brenda (Dillard/Yazvac) Hood.

Dolores will be remembered by her beloved children, Maria (Mason) Frazetta and her husband Joseph Frazetta, Kimi (Mason) Snyder and her husband, Christopher Snyder, Michael Mason and his wife Michelle (Robison)

-by her stepchildren and grandchildren, Steve Mason and his wife Cindy (Carnes) and their daughter Kirstin (Mason) Salmen and her husband Phillip Salmen, Lauren Mason and Heather Mason.

-as Grandma by her darling grandchildren, Calvin Snyder and his wife Mallory (McClellan), Curtis Snyder and his wife Teresa (Mitchell), Craig Snyder, Kendal Snyder, Michael Mason, Jr. and Andrew Mason and his fiancée Eryn (Jenkins)

-as Great Luvy by her precious great grandchildren; Eleni, Penelope and Thomas Snyder

-as Aunt Dee by her dear nieces and nephew, Deborah “Debbie” Avery (John Cooke), Dawne Avery (Steve Pappas), Dana Avery (Stuart Hall), Dorianne “Dori” Avery (AD Meloy), James “Jimmy” Avery (Carolyn Shinnick), Ronnie Abigill (Liz Daley), Jason Yazvac (Tammy White ), April Hood (John Brunson ) and great nieces and nephews, Jace Cooke, Jameson Cooke, Patty Cooke (Charles Kreuzberger) , Julie Cooke (Brandon Estrain), Stephen Pappas (Danielle Dunn) , Jason Pappas (Alison Clary) , Dara Pappas, Christopher Meloy, Ashleigh Meloy (Elijah J Wolfe), Samantha Meloy, Wesley Abigill and Danny Abigill

-as the Avery Matriarch to extended family by her cousins Dennis Petrella and his wife Genevieve, Ron Petrella and his wife Diane, Dennis Avery and his wife Claire, and DJ Avery.

Dolores was predeceased by her sister-in-law Patricia (Fox) Avery, brother-in-law George “Buddy” Yazvac, stepson Calvin “Bunky” Mason, nephews Daniel “Danny” Avery and Mark Avery and cousin Pvt. Michael “Larry” Petrella.

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