Dolores Maria Ramirez

Dolores Ramirez, age 90 of Wayne, passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 7, 2020 with 3 generations of family by her side.

Dolores was born on September 9, 1929 in Guayaquil, Ecuador, one of eleven children to Fidel and Dolores Mejia. Dolores often shared fond memories of her childhood, living above the department store her father owned. She would reminisce about her parents generosity and caring nature. Her father would often give less fortunate people items from his store, while her mother would feed the neighborhood children. It’s these values and many more that she passed down through future generations. She took the utmost pride in her heritage, home, and faith.

After graduating high school and attending secretarial school, Dolores met and married Raul Ramirez in 1953. After 6 years of marriage and the birth of their first two children, Dolores and Raul decided to pursue the American dream. Raul immigrated to NJ in 1959, with plans to procure a job and residence. Dolores and their 2 children followed on July 1, 1960. They lived in Ridgefield Park, NJ for their first two years in the US. Soon after Dolores was pregnant with their 3rd child and the family decided to plant their roots in Passaic, NJ where she happily lived for the next 60 years.

Dolores was a loving, devoted matriarch who cherished and cared for her family above all else. As a devout Catholic, she would attend Sunday services every week, and bestowed blessings upon her children before they left the house. Every day she found time to read her Bible & pray her rosary. On Thursdays, she would spend her morning at the beauty parlor to ensure her hair always looked its best. Some of her other activities included polishing her nails, walking around the mall, and the occasional trip to Atlantic City. Her chicken & rice, pistachio cake, and Jell-O were staples at all family gatherings. After every visit, we could always count on her standing at her 3rd floor window, waving goodbye until our cars drove out of sight.

Dolores was predeceased by her husband Raul Ramirez, all 10 of her siblings, and her sons-in-law Anthony Mercaldi & Ricardo Pabon. She is survived by her children: Ignacio Ramirez and wife Susan, Maria Mercaldi, and Janet Pabon; four grandchildren: Anthony, Nicole, Michael and wife Amanda, and Daniel; two great grandsons: Anthony and Liam; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.