Dolores M. Columbo

Dolores M. Columbo (88) of Reading, peacefully passed away on Friday, February 28th, surrounded by her loving family. 

She is survived by her children, Jason Kline, Donna Lepore, Michele Sellers, and Kimberly Bricker, grandchildren Justin Garrett, Brooke Mish, Brett Lepore, Dante Lepore, Taylor Bradley, Alexa Bricker, Rachel Kline, and Camille Sellers, nephews Ross and Jeff Kneeream and their families, and great-grandchildren Ares, Giada, and Isabella. She is predeceased by her parents Thomas and Filomena Grassi, sisters Rosalie Grassi and Marie Kline, daughter Karen Garrett, and granddaughters Autumn Garrett and Meredith Bricker. 

As a life-long resident of Reading and 1954 graduate of Reading High School, Dolores loved the city she called home for more than eight decades. She had a natural passion for music from a young age and was an active member of Southern Junior High’s Drama Club. Later in life she joined Southern’s Reunion Club and enjoyed spending time with former classmates. After high school, Dolores was employed as a key punch operator at Textile Machine Works and later Western Electric/Lucent Technologies, where she worked until her retirement in 1996.

The most prominent theme throughout Dolores’s life was her family and friends, and nothing brought her greater joy than being surrounded by people she loved. Her door was open to anyone who needed a place to stay, something to eat (especially on Sundays when spaghetti was on the stove), or an ear to listen.

Traveling, attending concerts, and dancing were among Dolores’s other favorite pastimes. She particularly loved reminiscing about her once in a lifetime trip to Italy, and talking about her favorite artist, Elvis Presley.

Dolores could always be found with a camera in hand, documenting special moments with loved ones. She will forever be remembered for her spunkiness, love for life, and the warmth and kindness she showed to everyone she met. In honor of Dolores’s memory, her family is asking that anyone who was touched by her presence to pass on that gift by performing one random act of kindness to anyone in need. 

 Services will be held on Saturday, March 15, at Bean Funeral Homes in Shillington. Visitation is from 8:00-10:00am, followed by a celebration of life service. A graveside service at Gethsemane Cemetery will follow. 

 In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.