Dolores L. (Kemler) Pesch

After 69 years of marriage, Dolores L. Pesch (nee Kemler), 88, of Sheffield Lake, was only alone on this earth for 55 days before she was joined together in His glory, with her beloved husband, Joseph.  Dolores passed away on Friday September 22, 2023 at Life Care Center of Elyria with her family at her bedside.  As anyone who knew Dolores would understand, she didn’t depart from her worldly body until her fingernails were polished, her hair was combed and she was wearing her signature angel pin!  She was born on April 30, 1935 in Pittsburgh, PA.  Following their marriage, Dolores and Joe moved to Cleveland for his job at Snap-On Tools.  They started their family and eventually moved to Sheffield Lake in 1958, where they remained for the rest of their lives.  A stay-at-home mother, Dolores enjoyed being involved with Joe in his civic activities during his years with the Jaycees.  They loved serving as chaperones at the old Teen Canteen, which eventually was to become the Joyce Hanks Community Center in Sheffield Lake.  She also enjoyed her years as a member of the Brookside Band Boosters.  In 1970, Dolores and Joe fell in love with the wonderful world of camping.  For many years, they traveled with their family in their Holiday Rambler trailer, making many new friends along the way.  They eventually decided to settle down and became permanent campers at Pier Lon Campground in Chatham, where they spent every summer for the past 41 years.  Cruising was Dolores and Joe’s other passion, taking 16 cruises over the years.  They also enjoyed several trips to Germany, where they reunited with Joe’s father, whom he never met until 1987.  As members of First Congregational United Church of Christ in North Ridgeville, they enjoyed many years of active service.  Sadly, due to Covid and Joe’s deteriorating health and mobility, they were unable to remain as active and involved as they had been prior.  Dolores spent the last several years selflessly caring for Joe as his health failed.  Dolores L. Pesch is survived by, her daughter, Sharon Re (Pietro) of Elyria, two sons, Joseph Pesch Jr. (Sandra) of Grafton and Steven Pesch (Barbara) of Elyria and a son-in-law, Robert Sigworth of FL.  She is also survived by sisters, Ascenith (Lawrence, deceased), Eleanor (Clifford, deceased), Bonnie (William) and brother, Adam (Mary Anne, deceased) all of PA.  Dolores also leaves a legacy of 13 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.  Besides her beloved husband, Dolores was preceded in death by her daughter, Regina Sigworth in 1986, her son-in-law, Samuel Laurio in 2007, as well as her very special dogs, Lady and Layla.  The family will receive friends on Tuesday September 26, 2023 from 4 to 7pm at the Liston Funeral Home, 36403 Center Ridge Rd., (at Stoney Ridge Rd.), North Ridgeville, and again on Wednesday September 27, 2023 from 10am until the time of the funeral service at 11am at the funeral home.  Pastor Bill Shomo will officiate the service.  Burial will be at Ridgeville Cemetery in North Ridgeville.  The Pesch family would like to thank Life Care Center for their amazing care of our mother during her last 8 days.  They could not have made Mom’s transition into our promised glory any easier.  Every person we encountered there was loving, patient, and kind, not just to Mom, but to all of us as well! Her wishes were always their top priority.  For that, we will be eternally grateful.  The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to either Friends of the Lorain County Dog Kennel, 301 Hadaway Street, Elyria, OH 44035 or to Grafton VFW Auxiliary for the Grafton Veteran’s Memorial Project, 783 Huron Street, Grafton, OH 44044.            

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