Dolores Marie (Steffo) Ciminera

Dolores Marie (nee Steffo) Ciminera died suddenly Saturday, June 5, 2021. Loving wife of the late Joseph Ciminera.  Beloved Mother to Patrice (George) Torres, Tina (Butch) Mendenhall, Jenny Ciminera, Joseph Ciminera, Gregory (Donna) Ciminera, Valerie Ciminera who represent her proudest accomplishment; she would beam, “I have six”.  Orphaned in Philadelphia and raised by the good Sisters of the Daughters of Charity in St. Vincent’s Home, Drexel Hill, PA, Mom practiced a lifelong devotion to the Blessed Mother. Imbued with God’s dignity, her strong will enabled her to prevail throughout her life.

A talented beautician, Dolores met her husband-to-be, Joseph, when he enrolled in vocational school after the Korean War with the expressed intention of ‘meeting girls’. He met this beauty and her beauty would endure until her last day. They married in 1956 and Mom was adopted into her new Ciminera family.

The newlyweds settled in Yeadon, Delaware County, PA, to raise a family. She set up “shop” in the basement to service family while raising her six. Athletically inclined, Mom acted as an unofficial diving instructor – a skill she mastered at St. Vincent’s -- at Yeadon Swim Club, teaching the basics to the kids assembled. She formed us with love in the Roman Catholic faith at St. Louis Church; Christmas and Easter were the highlights of her year, and any holiday was a celebration to include matching attire.

With a renewed heart, Mom moved to Strath Haven Condominiums, where she built yet another family of friends on her kind spirit, sincerity, and compassion. Dolores would visit the sick or lonely, chat in the mail room or lobby, all the while making her building a community. Neighbors became dear friends. Through visits, notes and cards, or a home-cooked meal, Mom delivered her love.

Her last home was in St. Petersburg, Florida, to live in the warmth with 2 of her 6. Sunning, shopping, collecting seashells, shopping, drinking coffee by the pool, lounging with her canine grandson Dexter, shopping and toiling around the house filled her day and filled the house with her love.  

She had a fun-loving personality, easy to laugh, Dolores was never a “flat tire” and quick to tell you, if you were.  Master of the malapropism, Mom could inadvertently twist a word or name beyond recognition which always resulted in a belly laugh from her and anyone in ear shot. So unique are they,  they earned the moniker “a Doloresism”. We kept a list.

A devoted wife, Mom was also “Nanny” to George, Ashley, Erica, Anthony, Sarah, Stephanie, Dean, Nick, Jenna Dolores, and Gia and great-grandmother to Kyle, Jacob, Mason, Rhys, Emmery, and October will bring another. Family was her vocation, children were her passion and love was the source.

She is preceded in death by her loving husband Joseph Ciminera; her beloved father-in-law Pasquale Ciminera; mother-in-law Jennie Ciminera; brother-in-law Pat; sisters-in-law Barbara and Betty and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Relatives and friends are invited to her Funeral Mass 11:00 A.M. Monday, June 14, 2021 at St. John Vianney Church, 350 Conshohocken State Road, Gladwyne, PA  19035 where friends may call 9:15-10:45 A.M. at the Church also. The Funeral Mass will be live-streamed as well.  Please click the following link at 10:55 A.M. on Monday, June 14th  https://masslivestream.com/churches/sjvgladwyne#streams Interment private.