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January 9, 2013
Services
Friends may visit with the family on Sunday, January 13, 2013 from 2:00 to 6:00 PM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne.
Funeral services will be held Monday, January 14, 2013 at 9:30 AM from the funeral home, then to Immaculate Heart of Mary R.C. Church, 580 Ratzer Road, Wayne, where a 10:30 AM Funeral Mass will be offered.
Interment will be in Cresthaven Cemetery, Clifton.
Dolores N. Baldanza, age 81 of Wayne and formerly of Passaic, died peacefully on Wednesday, January 9,2013.
She was born in Passaic, living a short time in Clifton only to return to Passaic where she grew up and graduated Passaic High School in 1949. One night, when Dolores was almost 20 she attended a dance at the Passaic YMCA . While she was there she met a young man named Liborio Baldanza. Of course no one called him his proper name, he was known as “Libby” to anyone who knew him. Libby liked Dolores right from the start and as the dance was coming to an end Libby asked if could give Dolores a ride home. Already impressed by his charming personality, she accepted his offer. As they approached his car, an early 1950’s bright red Cadillac two-door convertible , Dolores’ eyes lit up and she thought to herself, “Yes! I really like this guy!” Well, as the story goes...she got home really late that night and got in some trouble from her folks for being late, but that night began the beginning of her love story. Libby and Dolores were married 6 months later on January 24,1954 at St. Anthony’s RC Church in Passaic. The wedding was followed by a beautiful reception at the Manor in West Orange and a two week honeymoon in Florida. Dolores often oked how she gained fourteen pounds on her honeymoon, lucky she was thin enough that gaining weight was not such a bad thing.
There were four things that Dolores built her life around: family, friends, food and love. Like a chord of four strands, these qualities intertwined as one strong force that made her life special. At a young age, Dolores learned firsthand, the value of family. Every day, along with her brothers Augie, Nick and Dominick, Dolores would gather at their parents home, Mike and Kate around four PM for coffee, cake and conversation. It was an unspoken invitation and looked forward to by all! Every Sunday she and Libby would visit both their parents and join the families in a Sunday traditional pasta dinner and family camaraderie. This tradition continued for Libby and Dolores with their own children.
When you were a friend of Dolores you were considered one of her family. The consummate socialites, she and her husband joined with a group of pals they called “The Club.” Every first Friday of the month The Club gathered for dinner at a chosen home and enjoyed a night of poker with many laughs and endless conversation. The Club members became lifelong friends and were very important staples in the lives of Libby and Dolores and were still held a special place in her heart all her life.
Every New Year’s Eve, the Baldanza’s street on 34 Grace Terrace in Passaic was lined with cars! Friends and family gathered at their home to ring in the New Year. As their tradition went, after midnight the celebration turned to a birthday party for Libby who had a January 1st birthday. Sausage and pepper sandwiches at midnight ...this tradition went on for more than 25 years
As Dolores and Libby ‘s two sons were growing, the family spent all of their summers in the 70’s down the shore at Seacrest Beach. Like all other family events , extended family was always invited and came often. Dolores watched her sons Sal and Michael surf and all the while she held her breathe because she was so nervous.
She began another chapter in her life re-entering the work force in the early 2000‘s working for the Board of Education in Passaic as a secretary to Special Services. She absolutely loved going to work every day and made so many close friends there, and these friends she held dear to her heart. Soon after Libby passed away in 1997, Dolores moved to Wayne to live with Mike and his wife Maureen and their children. This again was a powerful example of how important family was to Dolores. It gave her a wonderful opportunity to take part in two of her three grandchildren’s daily lives – Nicholas and Briana. She doted over them as well as their cousin Jacob by sending cards on EVERY holiday and being there for all of their childhood memories like games and swim meets. She became Nick and Briana’s “Study Buddies” and every chance she could seize, she would drive to Vernon to hang out with Jake. Dolores truly loved her children but she ADORED her grandchildren and they adored her right back. She lived her life with her motto of ‘Always do the right thing” ...as she always did.
Dolores was predeceased by her beloved husband Liborio “Libby” in 1997 and her two brothers August “Augie” and Nicholas. She is survived by her two dear sons: Michael Baldanza and wife Maureen of Wayne and Salvatore Baldanza and wife Shelley of Highland Lakes; three much-loved grandchildren: Nicholas, Briana and Jacob; her brother Dominic of Passaic and numerous nieces and nephews.
Those inclined to make a memorial donation are asked to consider the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, PO box 27106, NY, NY 10087-7106.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family on Sunday, January 13, 2013 from 2:00 to 6:00 PM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne.
Funeral services will be held Monday, January 14, 2013 at 9:30 AM from the funeral home, then to Immaculate Heart of Mary R.C. Church, 580 Ratzer Road, Wayne, where a 10:30 AM Funeral Mass will be offered.
Interment will be in Cresthaven Cemetery, Clifton.
January 9, 2013
Services
Friends may visit with the family on Sunday, January 13, 2013 from 2:00 to 6:00 PM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne.
Funeral services will be held Monday, January 14, 2013 at 9:30 AM from the funeral home, then to Immaculate Heart of Mary R.C. Church, 580 Ratzer Road, Wayne, where a 10:30 AM Funeral Mass will be offered.
Interment will be in Cresthaven Cemetery, Clifton.
Dolores N. Baldanza, age 81 of Wayne and formerly of Passaic, died peacefully on Wednesday, January 9,2013.
She was born in Passaic, living a short time in Clifton only to return to Passaic where she grew up and graduated Passaic High School in 1949. One night, when Dolores was almost 20 she attended a dance at the Passaic YMCA . While she was there she met a young man named Liborio Baldanza. Of course no one called him his proper name, he was known as “Libby” to anyone who knew him. Libby liked Dolores right from the start and as the dance was coming to an end Libby asked if could give Dolores a ride home. Already impressed by his charming personality, she accepted his offer. As they approached his car, an early 1950’s bright red Cadillac two-door convertible , Dolores’ eyes lit up and she thought to herself, “Yes! I really like this guy!” Well, as the story goes...she got home really late that night and got in some trouble from her folks for being late, but that night began the beginning of her love story. Libby and Dolores were married 6 months later on January 24,1954 at St. Anthony’s RC Church in Passaic. The wedding was followed by a beautiful reception at the Manor in West Orange and a two week honeymoon in Florida. Dolores often oked how she gained fourteen pounds on her honeymoon, lucky she was thin enough that gaining weight was not such a bad thing.
There were four things that Dolores built her life around: family, friends, food and love. Like a chord of four strands, these qualities intertwined as one strong force that made her life special. At a young age, Dolores learned firsthand, the value of family. Every day, along with her brothers Augie, Nick and Dominick, Dolores would gather at their parents home, Mike and Kate around four PM for coffee, cake and conversation. It was an unspoken invitation and looked forward to by all! Every Sunday she and Libby would visit both their parents and join the families in a Sunday traditional pasta dinner and family camaraderie. This tradition continued for Libby and Dolores with their own children.
When you were a friend of Dolores you were considered one of her family. The consummate socialites, she and her husband joined with a group of pals they called “The Club.” Every first Friday of the month The Club gathered for dinner at a chosen home and enjoyed a night of poker with many laughs and endless conversation. The Club members became lifelong friends and were very important staples in the lives of Libby and Dolores and were still held a special place in her heart all her life.
Every New Year’s Eve, the Baldanza’s street on 34 Grace Terrace in Passaic was lined with cars! Friends and family gathered at their home to ring in the New Year. As their tradition went, after midnight the celebration turned to a birthday party for Libby who had a January 1st birthday. Sausage and pepper sandwiches at midnight ...this tradition went on for more than 25 years
As Dolores and Libby ‘s two sons were growing, the family spent all of their summers in the 70’s down the shore at Seacrest Beach. Like all other family events , extended family was always invited and came often. Dolores watched her sons Sal and Michael surf and all the while she held her breathe because she was so nervous.
She began another chapter in her life re-entering the work force in the early 2000‘s working for the Board of Education in Passaic as a secretary to Special Services. She absolutely loved going to work every day and made so many close friends there, and these friends she held dear to her heart. Soon after Libby passed away in 1997, Dolores moved to Wayne to live with Mike and his wife Maureen and their children. This again was a powerful example of how important family was to Dolores. It gave her a wonderful opportunity to take part in two of her three grandchildren’s daily lives – Nicholas and Briana. She doted over them as well as their cousin Jacob by sending cards on EVERY holiday and being there for all of their childhood memories like games and swim meets. She became Nick and Briana’s “Study Buddies” and every chance she could seize, she would drive to Vernon to hang out with Jake. Dolores truly loved her children but she ADORED her grandchildren and they adored her right back. She lived her life with her motto of ‘Always do the right thing” ...as she always did.
Dolores was predeceased by her beloved husband Liborio “Libby” in 1997 and her two brothers August “Augie” and Nicholas. She is survived by her two dear sons: Michael Baldanza and wife Maureen of Wayne and Salvatore Baldanza and wife Shelley of Highland Lakes; three much-loved grandchildren: Nicholas, Briana and Jacob; her brother Dominic of Passaic and numerous nieces and nephews.
Those inclined to make a memorial donation are asked to consider the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, PO box 27106, NY, NY 10087-7106.
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