Dolores "Dolly" (Fluharty) Paoli

Dolores “Dolly” Paoli (Fluharty), 90 of Wilmington, Delaware, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, July 20th, surrounded by her loving family. She was the daughter of the late Thomas and Mary (Sheldon) Fluharty of Kentmere.

Dolly graduated from Wilmington High School as a proud member of the class of 1953. She met the love of her life, Alfred Paoli, in 1951, and they married in 1956 when Al returned home from Korea after serving our Country as a proud member of the US Army. Dolly’s beloved Alfred passed away on November 12, 1979.

Dolly was a devout Catholic and member of the Blessed Mother Sodality at Corpus Christi Parish in Elsmere. As a very active member of the parish, Dolly prepared the altar for Mass and volunteered at the annual carnival and special events held in the parish social hall. Dolly worked at the Bell Telephone Company after her high school graduation, before beginning a 20-year career with the Red Clay Consolidated School District as a Title I Paraprofessional. In 1989, Dolly opened Dolly’s Daycare so she could help raise her grandchildren and the children of her neighbors and friends. Her grandchildren still share fond memories to this day of the time they spent at Mom Mom’s daycare and find comfort thinking about the many blessed memories made while in her tender loving care.  

Dolly will be forever cherished by her five children Bill Paoli, Theresa Paoli, Esther Stevenson, Joanne Lennon, and Alfred Paoli, Jr.  Her beloved thirteen grandchildren Bill (Lindsay), Jonathan (Melinda), Matthew (Molly), Davena (Brad), Michael, Brittany, Sean, Jaclyn, Ashley (John), Luke, Jordan, Trinity, AJ, and eight precious great grandchildren James, Nicholas, Jack, Piper, Judith, Arthur, and Henry, with another great grandson expected in December. 

Dolly is also survived by her sister, Irene, and husband  Charlie Parker, her sisters-in-law, who were like sisters, Mary Ann and husband Steve Catalina, Rose Mary and husband Benny McBride, Dori Paoli, and Gini Paoli, including many nieces and nephews, extended family, and friends, all who Dolly sincerely adored and loved immensely. 

In addition to her parents and husband, Dolly is predeceased by her brothers Raymond (Ray Ray), Billy, Ronnie, and her sister Ginger Feher (Bill). Her mother & father in-law, Joseph & Esther Paoli and her in-laws Domenic Paoli (Lee), Catherine Sparco (Anthony), Eugene Paoli, Joseph Paoli (Nikki), Nello Paoli (Ann), and Anthony Paoli. 

The family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to Saint Francis LIFE (SFL), where Mom was a participant in the Adult Day Program over the past ten years.  There are not enough words to express how grateful Dolly’s family is for their mother being surrounded by your loving care all those years and for the remarkable bond that was formed between Dolly’s family and the SFL Staff. The family also wants to thank the excellent Doctors and Nurses at Christiana Care, whose compassion and dedication to Mom’s well-being were outstanding. They also appreciate Compassionate Care Hospice for the excellent care and support given as Mom transitioned.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be Celebrated on Thursday, July 24, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 9th and Dupont Streets, Wilmington. Family and Friends are invited to visitation from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  Interment will follow Mass in Cathedral Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating, in Dolly’s memory, to Saint Francis LIFE.  To Donate to Saint Francis LIFE click here St. Francis LIFE Donation  OR to St. Jude Children's Research by Click here St. Jude Donate

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