Dolores S. McNulty | Obituary

Dolores McNulty, longtime San Marino resident, passed away on January 28, with her loving family at her side. She was 93 years old.

Born on September 7, 1928, Dolores was raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by her parents, Frank and Marie Smith. She was the eldest of four children, followed by brothers, Frank and Robert, and sister, Joan. A devout Catholic all her life, Dolores graduated from West Catholic High School for Girls in 1946.

At 19, Dolores met Marine Corps veteran Thomas McNulty, who was attending Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, under the GI Bill. They were married in 1951 and began raising a family in King of Prussia. In 1962, Dolores and Tom moved their four children to Greensboro, North Carolina, where Tom was hired to build a chemical plant. Fourteen years and a fifth child later, Dolores and Tom moved their family to San Marino, building a house on the old Patton Estate.

In addition to raising her five children, Dolores was active in her community, volunteering at Huntington Memorial Hospital for many years. She was also a longtime member of the Assistance League of Pasadena. She was an active parishioner at Holy Family Church in South Pasadena and Sacred Heart in Palm Desert.

Sharing her husband’s love of sailing, Dolores spent many years cruising the Southern California coast with him on their boat, Chez Vous. Catalina Island, her favorite boating destination, was where they spent most of their summers. Dolores also loved the desert and was thrilled whenever she was able to spend time at her home in Indian Wells.

Dolores lived a life of great faith and humility. Always cheerful and optimistic, even in the face of serious illness, she leaves behind a rich legacy that includes a marriage of nearly 61 years, five children, 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents; brother, Frank; husband, Tom; and daughter, Nancy Rose Noble. She is survived by her daughter, Mimi (Joe), and sons, Tom, Joe and Chris (Jennie); grandchildren, Catherine, Geoff and Chris Noble, Sean Skelton, Megan Heiliger, Lisa and Tommy McNulty, Luke, Nancy, Madison and Sophia McNulty; great-grandchildren, Calvin Noble, Samantha Heiliger and Kelly Skelton.

A memorial mass was held at Holy Family Church in South Pasadena on March 14.