Dolores Fenix Sapienza, Del State retiree
Dolores, aka “Chuppie,” attended first grade in a one-room schoolhouse in Elysburg, Pa. Her high school years were spent at Shamokin High School, where she was editor of the school newspaper, The Hi-Lighter.
Upon high school graduation, Dolores told her father of her aspiration to become a lawyer. His response was, “Girls aren’t lawyers.” On that note, she enrolled in Syracuse University to study journalism, where she joined Zeta Tau Alpha, and served as treasurer.
In addition to a bachelor’s degree in journalism, Dolores earned a master’s degree in community education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She wrote her doctoral dissertation at Virginia Tech on young widows through survey research. Dolores herself was widowed at 48 after 23 years of marriage.
Her first professional job was at the Lancaster New Era as manager of correspondents. It was here that she met Jerry Sapienza, a prize-winning reporter. After falling in love and a proposal involving a diamond ring in a macaroni box, they married in 1958 and raised four children, Lisa, Lynne, Leslie Ann and John.
Dolores valued community involvement. She was active in the American Association of University Women, League of Women Voters, Dover Newcomer’s Club, and the League of American PEN Women Inc.
When she returned to her career, she was hired by Delaware Tech as a program developer. Later, she was hired as the director of continuing education at Delaware State College, retiring in 1993 after 25 years. Her proudest moment at Del State was hearing the General Assembly change the title of college to university.
Her passions included traveling, collecting antiques, cooking, canning, watching football (even reruns during COVID), and dogs. As for her love of collecting antiques, at one time, 34 old clocks were ticking away in the Sapienza home. Her husband, Jerry, took credit for the time-keeping. Her travels carried her to Turkey, Israel, West Africa (Senegal), Panama, Auschwitz, Italy (The Vatican), Mexico, and Collesano (the Sapienza family’s hometown). In later years, Dolores also traveled to Poland and the Czech Republic through People to People International, an organization formed by President Eisenhower to foster goodwill among nations. Dolores helped start PTPI’s New Castle County chapter.
While in semi-retirement, Dolores’ passion for cooking and canning was put to good use when she opened the Old Farmhouse Bed and Breakfast in Dewey Beach. She enjoyed being an innkeeper for eight years. Her final home was in Millsboro, where she lived until her passing.
Even though her accomplishments were remarkable, at the end of the day, she was one-of-a-kind, a force to be reckoned with, and our beloved Mom.
Dolores was preceded in death by her husband, Jerry; her parents; brother, Gilbert; and her son-in-law, Bob Sadusky.
Dolores is survived by her four children, Lisa Boyles, Lynne Sadusky, Leslie Sapienza (Frank) and John Sapienza; her fourth daughter by marriage, John’s wife, Linda Sapienza; cherished grandchildren, Johnny Sapienza, Sarah Sapienza Silva (Jesse), Robert Sadusky Jr. (Katherine), Julia Sadusky, Zach Sadusky (Stephanie), Maria Sadusky, Therese Lawrence (Ollie), Luke Sadusky, Matthew Sadusky, Marinah Morgan Carver, Elainah Boyles (Kris), and Susannah Boyles; great-grandchildren, Mason, Cameron, Noah, Gabe, Adrian, Angelo, Clara, Lillian, Stella and Judah; dear cousin, Joan Brown; sister-in-law, Gloria Vendryes; a host of precious nieces and nephews; and her very devoted caregiver and partner-in-crime, Towanda Thomas.
Friends may call from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 21, at Michael Ambruso Funeral Home, 1175 S. State St., Dover. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 1 p.m., at The Church of the Holy Cross, Dover. Internment will be at Sharon Hill Memorial Park.
