Obituary of Dolores Mary Smith

Dolores Smith died peacefully at the age of 87 on December 9, 2023. She is predeceased by her husband of 64 years Bill Smith. She is survived by her daughter Rene Rice, son Bill Smith, granddaughter Chelsey Rice, grandsons Ryan Smith, Jeffry Rice, Kalen Smith and great-granddaughter Lilah Chiapperini.

Dolores was born in the Bronx; her mother died the same year leaving mom to be raised by her paternal grandmother and two aunts in Nanticoke Pennsylvania. After graduation from high school, she was accepted to attend Rutgers University but decided instead to marry the man she met at a dance, our father in 1956. They moved to Penfield New York to start their careers and raise a family. 

Our mom was the hardest working woman you would ever meet. She worked doing the bookkeeping for our father’s gas station business and then worked full time at Prudential Insurance while also cooking dinner every night, keeping an immaculately clean house, and taking care of the finances. She would stay up until 2am preparing food and the supplies needed for camping, boating, snowmobiling or going to the camp they purchased in Tug Hill. 

Mom worked at Prudential for over 30 years until she retired in 1995. While at Prudential she advanced to Office Manager and received numerous awards including an award as a Quality Service Leader being selected by her peers for going “above and beyond” for the entire Northeast Region of Prudential Offices. Not only was she an exemplary leader she also formed lifelong friendships with many of her co-workers that have continued to keep in contact. 

Family and friends were extremely important and took first place in her life. She called her kids and grandkids weekly andvisited them at least 3 times a year when they lived in Texas or California. None of us will forget that she made reservations 9 years in advance for all of us to meet at Disney World for a week at Disney World to celebrate the 2000 New Year’s Eve celebration at Downtown Disney. What a celebration and memory that was for us all. Thanks mom and grandma!

No one ever went hungry with mom around. If you were invited to dinner, she always made enough food for twice as many people. She loved parties and playing cards with all her friends too. 

The last years of mom’s life were spent at Fairport Baptist Home with vascular dementia. All the staff were very kind and compassionate. Up until the very end she always wanted to be with others and loved being part of the social atmosphere. 

Calling hours will be held Sunday, December 17 from 1-4 pm at Falvo Funeral Home (1295 Frpt. Nine Mile Pt. Rd. Webster, NY 14580.) In lieu of flowers the family requests contributions be made to the Alzheimer’s Association in Dolores’ memory.