Obituary of Dolores Howell

Dolores Howell (nee Linder) peacefully passed away on August 1, 2024, at the age of 95 in Lumberton, NJ. Dolores was born at home in Burlington, NJ and was the last surviving of 9 Linder children, most recently predeceased by her loving sister Dorothy Hambleton (Dot) who died at the age of 100 in 2021.

Dolores (Dee) had 7 children and is preceded in death by her late devoted daughter Jacquelynn F. Si-Salem and cherished son Kevin B. Howell. She is survived by her children Shirley A. McCray (William) of Pennsylvania, John J. Howell, Sr. (Susan) of Maine, Theresa D. Huff (the late beloved William) of Maryland, Mary E. Pettiford of New Jersey, and Heather M. Howell of Florida. Dolores was affectionately known as "Grammy" to her grandchildren John C. Pettiford (Marty), Cello L. Pettiford II (Brittany), Rachel S. Robinson (Michael), John J. Howell, IV (Laurie), Kyle Seid, Brianna Seid, William Huff, Jr., Benjamin Huff (Chelsea) and the late beloved John Mark Huff (Liz) as well as 14 great-grandchildren.

Dolores was born one year before the "Great Depression" which lasted until she was 10, when WW II began and lasted until she was 17, in which her brother Bill served. She graduated from Collingswood High School in 1946 where she was in the Drama Club and served on an "All Boy" VFW Drum & Bugle Corp. by carrying the flag. She loved ice skating and roller skating, once went to a Frank Sinatra concert in Camden, NJ and one day saw President Franklin D. Roosevelt driving through the city. Dolores' early childhood memories included traveling to her grandparent's home in Tuckerton in a car with a "rumble seat," Uncle Wilbur Gaskill (Bib) being a commercial fisherman and her love of the ocean (and light houses) which she passed on to her children.

Marrying one year after high school, her husband Robert later worked at RCA and when living in Pennsauken the family had one of the first color televisions which came from the Brussels World's Fair. In the 1960's she and the children lived in Country Lakes, NJ for many years. Dolores went to nursing school in her early forties and worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant at Deborah Heart and Lung Center, which led to her career as a faithful civil servant, retiring from Walson Army Hospital, Ft. Dix, NJ in 1994 with over 20 years of Federal Service.

Intensely proud of her father's Swiss heritage, Dolores often spoke of her father's stories about his life in Switzerland. Dolores also had a love of country that inspired two of her children to join the military and she engaged in active citizenship by volunteering for a political campaign in 2008 and 2012. Later in life, Dolores enjoyed collecting dolls as well as volunteering in thrift shops where she made many friends. As a self-proclaimed "bag lady," Dolores enjoyed gifting her many thrift shop treasures to her loved ones. She enjoyed outdoor parks, zoos, and festivals, often toting along her grandchildren, thereby instilling a love of the outdoors for future generations.

Funeral services are private. In memory of Dolores, please donate to a local veteran organization of your choice.