Dolores (Dellorso) Vollmer

Dolly Vollmer, Age 82, long time resident of Castle Shannon, and most recently of Murrysville, passed away peacefully at her home on January 1, 2024, after a short illness caused by leukemia.

A devoted parishioner of Mother of Sorrows Church, she also had been a very active member of the St Winifred parish community and was particularly fond of volunteering for the annual fish fry.

Dolly lived a life focused on family. She was born in Canonsburg and grew up as part of the Dellorso/Skittle family there. As a devoted daughter, she helped make the regular so very special. frequent large family gatherings serve as a strong and enduring foundation, including helping to cook so many home-made family favorites, tailgating chili, and baking cookies for so many of her loved ones. She would later tirelessly and selflessly care for her mother, as well as many other beloved relatives, as they grew older.

She graduated from Robert Morris University and worked for Selective Service, during which time she would meet the love of her life, Ralph Vollmer Jr.  They wed on September 6, 1969, and would build and nurture a family of their own. They enjoyed over 46 years of partnership and loving marriage, all in the same house in the Londonderry neighborhood. “Do with it what is right” Ralph would say as he would bring home his UPS paychecks, and she certainly would come to do that, as a mom who did so much for the family.  They would work together to support their two children and their families in every way possible, in every stage of their lives, always putting the needs and interests of their son and daughter well above their own. They were overjoyed to continue this devotion as they were blessed with grandchildren, passing on love, encouragement, family traditions, life lessons, as well as just how to have fun in simple ways. They enjoyed fun times with their family not only at their home, but also during many outings, events, milestones, and vacations, as well as precious times at their family campsite at Bear Run in Portersville.

Dolly’s kindness, empathy, and joyfulness lead to the forming of an amazing core but also ever-growing group of friends who were like family to her. She treasured many special friendships lasting decades.  She would both give and receive support through the everyday joys and sorrows of life with extended family as well as these many friends. She continued this most recently as a resident of Redstone Highlands elder community in Murrysville, forming many loving bonds with neighbors and staff alike, continuing the pattern of looking out for and just being there for those who may have needed in some way her time and friendship.

She leaves behind so many cherished memories with her son David Vollmer (Sondra) of Imperial, daughter Kristen Luffey (Chuck) of Murrysville, and loving grandchildren Andrew, Elizabeth, Ben, Chase and Charleigh, as well as sister in laws Barbara Dellorso and Kathy Vollmer, many very special nieces, nephews and cousins.

She is preceded in death by her beloved husband Ralph Vollmer Jr, her father John Dellorso Sr, her mother Sophie Dellorso, and brothers Dominick Dellorso, Matt Dellorso, and John Dellorso Jr.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be set to Redstone Highlands c/o Redstone Mission Support, 126 Mathews St Greensburg, PA 15601. Please designate “Hospice AND Murrysville Campus” on the memo line of the check. The family wishes to thank the incredible staff at Redstone Highlands for the community and loving care provided to her.   

 Visitation is from 1 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, January 9, 2024, at Hart Funeral Home, Inc. Murrysville. Parting prayers will be 9:15 a.m. Wednesday, January 10, 2024, at the funeral home, followed by a 10 a.m. Funeral Mass at Mother of Sorrows Church, Murrysville. Interment will follow at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, Bridgeville, PA. For online condolences, please visit www.hartfuneralhomeinc.com. 

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