On August 13, 2016, Delores (Navarra) Phillips, fondly known as Dolly, passed away surrounded by her family. Born on May 26, 1929 in New Castle, she was the daughter of the late Sol and Rose Lombardo DiLullo. Her daughter, Charlene Navarra preceded her, as did her husband of 31 years, Jim Phillips; he was her rock. Her former husband, Fred Navarra, also preceded her; their 27 years of marriage will always be remembered as a stellar partnership. Still standing are two more daughters, Linda D’Augostine and Joanne Navarra, as well as her son, Richard Navarra. She is also survived by her sister, Rosalie Ferraro. In addition to her parents and husbands, she also was preceded in death by her brother, David DiLullo.

It should behoove the reader to know that this obituary was written by her granddaughter. It is a bit unusual as obituaries go but Dolly never did anything quietly or without pizazz; I am therefore of the opinion that she should have an extraordinary ending. I am one of 12 grandchildren. Among us, there are 17 great-grandchildren. We are Dolly’s legacy and the thing she was most proud of. At least, that’s how she made us feel.

There are things about my grandmother that I know from collected newspapers or stories passed along. It seems odd to me that she lived so much life before I was on this earth. Odd because she lived so much after I arrived. Wherever she was, she was always doing. She lived her years worth and many, many more.

Here’s what the papers tell me about Dolly Phillips: for many years, she helped run the Navarra Insurance Company alongside my grandfather, Fred Navarra. In 1968 she was recognized as Beta Sigma Phi’s (22nd) First Lady in New Castle. She was a member of the Epworth United Methodist Church in New Castle, where she served on the board and as parsonage chairman, among many other titles. She helped make New Castle beautiful (she made everything beautiful) when she served on the Greater New Castle Association’s beautification of Kennedy Square. She organized street fairs and decorated state fairs. She served on the board for the American Cancer Society and, as a member of the Rotary Anns, raised funds for the Lawrence County Society of Crippled Children and Adults, the United Fund, The Lawrence County Concert Association, and the YM-YWCA Building Fund. In 1984, the Lawrence County Ponoma Grange awarded her Outstanding Citizen of the Year. And… she was a stellar golfer. She graced the fairways of the Oak Tree Country Club for many years before her retirement to Florida, where she continued to golf almost daily.

All of these things are true of my grandmother but they cannot convey to you the woman she was to us. Dolly was classy. She made you sparkle when you were with her. She never settled for less and taught all of us to do the same. She was strong, stubborn, fierce, frank, funny, able, persistent, invincible, and loved. But her truest gift- the thing we will all remember her for- is that she brought people together. She often hosted a dinner or threw a party just to have family, friends, and neighbors all in the same room. She paid attention to the details. She remembered favorite dishes and drinks. She made sure everyone enjoyed themselves. She always had room for one more.

I think many of us have spent our lives trying to replicate that magic. We will miss you dearly Dolly.

Visitation will be from 4:00pm to 6:00pm on Monday, August 15 at Ed and Don DeCarbo Funeral Home 3000 Wilmington Rd. Services will be conducted Monday at 6:00pm at the funeral home, officiated by Reverend Dennis Bupp.

Interment will take place in Castleview Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Good Samaritan Hospice Wexford House, C/O CLM Foundation, 134 Marwood Road, Cabot, PA 16023. Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.decarbofuneralhome.com.