Delores M. Walaski Taylor

Delores M. Walaski Taylor “beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend”

CARLISLE, Pa.---Delores “Dee” Walaski Taylor, 91, born on November 9, 1931 in Coudersport, to Joseph and Gladys Davey Walaski, passed away just how she wanted and doing the things she enjoyed with loving friend and her extended family by her side Wednesday, March 15, 2023 at the Thornwald Home in Carlisle.

Known to most as Dee but best known by her family as wife, mom, mother dear, gram, grandma Dee Dee, aunt Dee and sister. Dee graduated Coudersport High School in 1949 and on June 24, 1950 she married her one true love, J. James “Jim” Taylor. She was a devout catholic and member of St Theresa’s Parish in Shinglehouse, where she joyfully sang with the choir. Dee enjoyed a few jobs early in life, working at the Coudersport Movie Theater and the Toy Factory, but none were greater than 71 years being a mother. Together Jim and Dee raised five children in Shinglehouse, Patricia, RoxAnn, Terry, Sheila and Jay.

Dee’s lived a long and at times adventurous life. She spent many of those years as a devoted at home wife of a pipeline operator. When the time came she traveled with Jim to those endeavors until his retirement when they became snow birds traveling from Shinglehouse to Florida. After Jim passed away Dee continued to travel the east coast and an occasional safari with her sister Rose Marie and daughter Dorrie including a trips to Las Vegas and Hawaii.

When traveling was no longer an option, Dee became a volunteer ombudsman with the Pennsylvania Department of Aging. That strong advocacy made her an easy choice to become the Thornwald Home Resident Council President after she moved there for her home comfort and care. The Thornwald staff were all amazing people who loved Dee and provided outstanding care. Dee thrived there because of that love and compassion and made it a point to call each of them by name.

Her time at Thornwald was always brightened when her sister Jean and husband Don Grom would stop for a visit. The stakes were high during these visits because Dee is formidable card shark and a game of Skip-bo would be afoot.

Left to cherish her memory are her children Patricia & Robert Danforth of Onfallen, IL, RoxAnn & Daniel Dibble of Iron Station, NC, Terry & Judy Taylor of Cheyenne, WY, Sheila & Glenn Parsons of Midwest City, OK and Jay & Dorrie Taylor of Mechanicsburg; her sisters, Jean (Don) Grom of Bethlehem, Shirley Zebracki of Fredonia, NY; a brother Gary (Sue) Walaski of Coudersport; a sister-in-law, Soledad Walaski of Dallas, TX; 10 grandchildren, Todd, Erin, Jennifer, Riann, Korrie, Ann Marie, Kimberly, Scott, Daniel, and Joshua, 15 great-grandchildren, Shane, Logan, Payton, Kaleb, Kypton, Kindall, Keegan, Taylor, Carter, Elvis, Annalisa, Thadious, Elizabeth, Abigayle, Auroraa a great-granddaughter, Alayna Jo; and countless nieces, nephews and cousins all who loved her dearly!

Dee was preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Gladys Walaski and John and Marie Taylor; husband, Jim; brothers, James and Bill Walaski; sisters, Nancy Walaski (Tom) Chitister, and Rose Marie Taylor (Bob) Sereno; bother-in-law, Pete (Marilyn) Taylor.

Family and friends may call from 2pm to 4pm and 6pm to 8pm on Sunday at the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home, 118 South Union Street, Shinglehouse. Parish prayers will be recited at 2:30pm in the funeral home on Sunday. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11am on Monday, March 20, 2023, in St. Theresa Catholic Church, Puritan Street, Shinglehouse, with the Rev. Thomas E. Brown, pastor, as celebrant. Burial will be in the Rathbone Cemetery, Coneville.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the activities department at the Thornwald Home, 442 Walnut Bottom Rd, Carlisle, PA 17013.

Dee entrusted her care to to Kevin J. Dusenbury, funeral director/owner of the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home, Shinglehouse.

To express condolences, light a candle, or share a fond memory of Dee, please visit www.virgillhowardfuneralhome.com or the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home Facebook page.