Dolores F. Dean
Dolores (Avia) Dean of Palmer Township passed away on November 3, 2023 at home, surrounded by her loving family. She was under the care of St. Luke’s Hospice in her final weeks. Dolores was born on November 25, 1934 and was soon to celebrate her eighty-ninth birthday.
After graduating with the class of 1953 from Easton Area High School, she was employed as an operator and supervisor with Bell Telephone of Pennsylvania. She was a member of the Bell Telephone Pioneers and a regular attendee at the Easton YMCA. An excellent cook and baker, she was once featured in the Easton Express for her prize-winning pumpkin pies. For many years, one of Dolores’ favorite pastimes was to take part in a bowling league at Bar-Don Lanes in Palmer Township. A lover of all dogs, great and small, Dolores welcomed them into her life and always enjoyed having them around her.
Dolores was a life-long Lutheran and a very active member of St. Paul’s Third Lutheran Church in Palmer Township. She was an integral part of the Meals-on-Wheels program for many years, serving the Easton, Wilson, and Palmer Township communities in that capacity.
Dolores is survived by her husband Ed, with whom she would have celebrated their sixty-fifth wedding anniversary on April 4, 2024. She is also survived by twin daughters Stefanie Smith (Wayne) and Valerie Diaz (Rey), also of Palmer Township, two grandsons, Jacob and Joseph Allen, her sister Frances Rankin of Bethlehem Township, and her brother John Avia of Hellertown. For the past two years, Dolores had a wonderful, personal care-giver, Jessica, whom she dearly loved and who is also dearly loved by the family.
The Finegan Funeral Home is handling arrangements. A Celebration of Life will be held at St. Paul’s Third Lutheran Church, 2561 Newburg Road, Palmer Township on Thursday, November 9, 2023 at 1:00 p.m., immediately preceded by calling hours at the church from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Dolores’ name can be made to St. Paul’s Third Lutheran Church.