OBITUARY: Dolores R. Soich, age 80, of Portage, IN and New Port Richey, FL, passed away of congestive heart failure on Wednesday, December 16, 2015. She was born on June 7, 1935, in Uniontown, PA to the late Mario and Minnie Esposito. Dolores became a registered nurse in 1956, and moved to Indiana after getting married in 1959. She began her career wearing starched white dresses, white stockings, and a nurse’s cap, and retired in scrubs four decades later. The nursing job closest to her heart was taking care of her son Tony when he became ill. Her small stature belied a strength that enabled her to survive not only the loss of a child, but also five heart attacks, two open-heart surgeries, and a broken neck called the “hangman’s fracture”, all without complaint.

Dolores loved to watch true crime television shows, had perfected the art of the prompt and gracious thank you note, was a great cook, and once made a hole-in-one, which she attributed to “pure luck” and no skill. She read almost every night and exercised almost every morning. Dolores was loyal, kind, funny, and young at heart for all of her days.

She is survived by her daughter, Sherri Soich of Des Moines, IA, as well as many extended family members and close friends. She was preceded in death by her three favorite men: her husband, Anthony J. Soich, her son, Tony Soich, and her brother, Mario Esposito.

A Memorial Mass will take place on Monday, December 21, 2015 at 10:00 am at Nativity of Our Savior Catholic Church, 2949 Willowcreek Road, Portage, Indiana with Rev. Andrew J. Corona officiating. She will be laid to rest at Calvary Cemetery in Portage. [www.reesfuneralhomes.com]