Dolores M. Bykowski

Dolores Bykowski of Wayne passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 30, 2021. She was 89 years old.

Born in Rhinebeck, NY, she was the only child of John and Laura Belinda. Dolores spent many happy years growing up on the family dairy and apple farm, surrounded by her extended family and a close-knit community.

She moved to Irvington, NJ where she attended secretarial school and started her career as a white glove legal secretary, retiring at age 78. Dolores met her husband, Edward, at a local dance and they married on May 3, 1958. They moved to Wayne, where she lived for over 60-years.

Her husband was the second youngest of nine children and Dolores enjoyed being part of a big, loving family, often entertaining large groups of people for the holidays. She and her husband socialized regularly with his family, traveling to the Catskills, Poconos, and Las Vegas, as well as dining out together as members of Dinner-for-Two. She was also an integral part of the family business, Pioneer Contracting, helping with the correspondence and invoices for many years.

Dolores was a devout Catholic and long-time parishioner of Our Lady of The Valley Roman Catholic Church, where she was an active member of the Rosary Society. She and her husband were regular attendees at numerous parish dances, often with their group of twelve neighborhood friends, who called themselves “The Dirty Dozen.”

A true highlight of Dolores’ life was the annual family vacation to the Jersey Shore with her children, grandchildren and other family and friends. There was much love and laughter playing cards, going to church as a family, dancing at the Crab’s Claw, trips to Atlantic City, sipping cocktails on the deck and just being together.

Dolores enjoyed traveling with her daughters on their various business trips, attending many conferences and tradeshows all over the country, and loved being considered an honorary member of “the team.”

She was a big sports fan and enjoyed playing tennis with the girls during the week and her Saturday night couples tennis parties. She spent countless hours at ballfields and basketball courts watching her children and grandchildren play. She coached her daughters’ softball teams and led them to numerous championships. Over time, she learned to share her husband’s passion for the NY Giants and looked forward to the football season every year and Sunday afternoons watching the games with her family.

Dolores was predeceased by her beloved husband Edward in 1982. She is survived by her four children: daughter Laura Fitzgerald and her husband Jack Thompson, son Edward Bykowski, daughter Cynthia Quinn and her husband Michael, and daughter Michelle Toscano and her husband James, as well as her eight grandchildren who affectionately call themselves “Dolores’ Angels” – Alexander Bykowski, Andina Toscano, Kendall Toscano, Michael Quinn, Christopher Quinn, Caroline Quinn, Elizabeth Quinn, and Julia Quinn, and her dear home healthcare aide, Emmanuella Ansah-sem.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the Wayne First Aid Squad, PO Box 2004, Wayne, NJ 07474  - if donating online immediately below where you input your donation amount please type "In Memory of Dolores Bykowski" in the box titled "Special Instructions to seller" so the family can properly acknowledge your donation.  If you mail a check please write "In Memory of Dolores Bykowski" in the memo.  We will also have Memorial Donation Cards for the Wayne First Aid Squad available at the visitation hours.