Dolores Morelli's Obituary
Dolores “Lola” Morelli, a beloved family matriarch and a gifted artist, passed away peacefully on February 29, 2020, in Palm Coast Florida. She was 93.
A longtime resident of Manhattan before relocating to Florida in 2012, Dolores grew up in the neighborhood now called Two Bridges in lower Manhattan and was educated at Washington Irving where she studied Graphic Arts.
She was born on January 2, 1927 in New York City, to immigrant parents from A Illa de Arousa, Pontevedra, Spain, Ricardo and Dolores Otero Logo. She is predeceased by her sister Louise and husband Paul Mandano and brother Richard and wife Phyllis Logo, her first husband Salvatore J. Restiv0, and second husband Emilio Morelli, and her daughter-in-law Denise Restivo.
Dolores spent 10 years as a waitress while raising her three children, Carol, Charles, and Nina after the death of her husband, Salvatore (Stevie). When her children were grown she was employed by NYC OTB until her retirement in 1992. In her later years especially, Dolores expressed a deep sense of pride and gratitude for her loving and compassionate family.
After 85 years in New York, Dolores moved to Florida in 2012, living in Grand Haven for three years before moving to Las Palmas in 2015.
Upon moving to Florida, Dolores maintained the active social life she long enjoyed as a New Yorker. In Grand Haven she had many friends; was a member of the Grand Haven Woman’s Club and one of the original “Material Girls,” whose members knit, crochet and sew items for cancer patients, babies, heart patients, and many others.
During her 5 years at Las Palmas she renewed her love of painting. “Lola,” as she signed her work, was an avid painter of flowers and birds and always gifted her work to the many special people in her life. She was a complex person, but always honest about her feelings; you knew where you stood with her. But no matter who you were in her life, if you asked for help she would and if she loved you, you were blessed.
A true enthusiast, Dolores loved to dance, loved good food, and adored the arts. She filled her home with beautiful flowers, her favorite hyacinths and pussy willows. But her greatest love was her family.
Dolores was the last of her generation. She is survived by her three children Carol, Charles, and Nina; her son-in-law Bob; her grandchildren James, Louise, David, Christine, Ryan, Diana, and Josh; her great-grandchildren, Henry, Arden, and Emilia; her nieces and nephews Diane, Janet, Donna, Joe, Richie and Jodie; grand-nieces and grand-nephews Gia, Matt, Ryan, Austin, Arianna, Nicholas, Samantha and Ricky and, her great grandniece Olive.
A Celebration of Life will be Friday, March 13th at Las Palmas, from 3 pm to 4:30 pm for Florida family and residents. A second one in Manhattan on Saturday, June 13th.
If you look up at the sky and see pink and blue clouds you know that “Lola” has painted them.
Rest in peace Lola, we all love you and will see you on the other side.
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