Obituary of Dolores M. Stavrakas

Dolores "Dee" (Martha Freitas) Stavrakas passed away peacefully after a short illness on Friday, August 24, 2018 in Morris Plains, New Jersey. 

Dee and her husband Jim (“Lucky”) had recently celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary with many friends and family members.  Although born in Lowell, Massachusetts in 1927, Dee and her husband raised their five children in New Jersey.  Their early years were spent living in Upper Montclair before moving to Chatham Township in November of 1972 where they lived on Peppermill Road until April of 2000.  They spent their final active years together splitting their time between their homes in Chester, NJ and Naples, FL where they visited other JC Penney retirees.

While a resident of Chatham, Dee volunteered actively in the schools and in her church as a parishioner of Corpus Christi Parish.  Dee was an avid bridge player and enjoyed her monthly club matches with the ladies of Wickham Woods.  She was a member of Colony Pool where she was often seen swimming her laps after coming off a round of tennis.  When her husband Lucky retired, she joined him on the golf courses of New Jersey and Florida.  Dee took delight in shopping with her daughters, babysitting her grandchildren, and taking care of her home and yard.  As a breast cancer survivor for 30 years, she was blessed with good health enjoying time with her friends in Chester but more importantly, with her family.

Dee was a selfless, loving mother whose life centered around her five children, twelve grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.  Nicknamed “DeeDee” by her family, she is survived by her husband Lucky, four daughters, and a son.  Daughter, MaryAnn, and son-in-law, Steve Coravos, of Dracut, MA; Christine, and son-in-law, Jack O’Marra, of Randolph, NJ; Regina and son-in-law, Joe Winter, of Arvada, CO; Beverly and son-in-law, Bill Conboy, of Windham, NH; and Jim and daughter-in-law, Karen Stavrakas, of Greenville, SC.  Dee was a devoted and proud grandmother of Meredith, Anastasia (“Stacey”), Christopher, John, Michael, Bill, Elizabeth (“Liz”), MaryKate, Daniel, Kevin, Ryan and Jake. And was blessed to also be a Great Grandmother to Carleigh and Cate O'Marra, Nik, Aria, Kathryn and Sonia Prithviraj, and Akira Coravos and Daniela Coravos.  Aunt Dolores will also be remembered lovingly by her many nieces and nephews.  

Family and friends are welcome to gather on Wednesday, August 29, 2018 from 9-11am at Dangler Funeral Home, 600 Speedwell Avenue, Morris Plains. A Funeral Mass for Dee will follow at noon at Corpus Christi Church, 234 Southern Blvd., Chatham. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations in memory of Dee may be made to: Grace Hospice (http://www.gracehcs.com/), or Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation (https://www.drsusanloveresearch.org/).