Dolores Catherine Sawa

Dolores C. Sawa (Orszulak), 93 Daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, and great grandmother a woman who loved well and was well loved; passed away peacefully at home surrounded by loved ones on August 7, 2023. Dolores was the youngest of three children sharing a birthdate with her twin brother born on July 19, 1930, to Frank Orszulak and Josephine (Mazur) Orszulak in Ware, Massachusetts.

Dolores is proceeded in death by her parents and her two brothers (Daniel Orszulak of NYC and twin brother Frank Orszulak of Springfield Massachusetts) along with her husband of forty-four years, John Stanley Sawa Sr. in which they resided in Chicopee Massachusetts. Dolores is survived by two sons John Stanley Sawa Jr. and his wife Deborah Sawa of Mooresboro, NC and son Frank Michael Sawa of Chuluota, Florida. Also leaving behind many nieces and nephews. Grandchildren James and wife Jennifer Sawa of Chuluota Florida, Jennifer (Sawa) and Husband Ivan Guzman of Forest City North Carolina, Krystal (Sawa) and husband Eric Nilsson of Summerville South Carolina, Lisa (Sawa) and husband Tyler Padgett of Mooresboro North Carolina Alexis Calder of New Hartford Connecticut Raven (Acton) and husband Bradley Means of Spartanburg South Carolina and Robbie Acton of Lincoln Missouri. Along with eighteen great grandchildren whom she loved dearly.

A devoted Catholic, Dolores loved people. Dolores was a happy, thoughtful, nurturing, and loving woman. She enjoyed looking for four leafed clovers which she often handed out for good luck, stickers of any sort for personalized cards she loved to mail and would include in her daily prayers anyone she met.  Dolores looked forward to an every Wednesday phone call with her loving niece Dolores “Dee Dee” (Orszulak) Basister of Manchester Connecticut. Dolores recently enjoyed spending her days attending Rutherford Lifecare Day Center in Spindale North Carolina where she attended but was a “big help” in her words, to the direct care staff.

Her beautiful life will forever be cherished in the lives of her loving family and friends. Services will be held in the chapel at Padgett & King Mortuary 227 E. Main Street Forest City, North Carolina 28043 on Saturday August 12, 2023, at 10:00am and a private burial will be held in West Waren Massachusetts at a later date. Deacon Andy Cilone will officiate the service. 

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Rutherford Lifecare Day Center 859 Thunder Road Spindale, NC 28160 or consider donating to any local shelter as “Gram” would often have said.

The Padgett and King Mortuary & Crematory is in charge of arrangements and an online guest registry is available at www.padgettking.com

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.