My mom was Dolores' neighbor in Vallecito. Dolores was such a good friend to my mom that if mom's drapes didn't open by a certain time, Dolores would call mom, and if mom didn't answer she would knock on her door and if mom still didn't answer she would call either my sister or me and tell us to high tail it over to the park to make sure mom was ok.

And for those too numerous to mention times that my sister or I would call mom and she didn't answer her phone for whatever reason...well, it was Dolores who was on both our speed dials...and we would call her to go make sure mom was ok.

Dolores was the most caring/giving person I have ever met - not in a mushy/gushy kinda' way, but more in a "this needs to be done so I'm going to do it way".

I attended the majority of the Vallecito Homeowner Association meetings w/ my mom and more often than not I would drive mom & Dolores up to the clubhouse for the meetings...well, when you drive Dolores anywhere it was never just Dolores. I soon learned that if you were driving Dolores you were also driving Marion from down the street, who by the way needs help getting from her house to the car & then she will need her walker put in the back of the car.

Dolores never asked if it was "ok", she just assumed & took charge and made sure that everyone who needed a ride got one. Even if it was 100 yr old Willie who would need a ride home -Dolores pretty much told you what to do and you just did it - cause you knew it was the right thing to do. No one was ever left behind w/ Dolores in the park. Dolores knew everyone and knew what each person needed and she was an inspiration to all her knew her ...an inspiration to do the right thing @ the right time without any fuss or any need for recognition. Dolores was truly a woman of substance - my mom, sister, & I will miss her greatly.


Suzanne (Russell) Freiberg