Dolores Hayes Cifrino peacefully passed away on January 5, 2025, at the remarkable age of 101 and a half years.

Born on August 6, 1923, in Buffalo, NY, Dolores’ life was marked by a deep curiosity and an adventurous heart. Even as a child, she experienced the breadth of the United States, moving with her family during the Great Depression from Buffalo to as far as New Orleans, and later to California and Washington state.

Returning to Washington, Dolores attended the University of Washington in Seattle. After marrying and having six children, a new chapter unfolded in 1970 when the family relocated to India for her husband’s work. This experience opened doors to travel to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, and across all over India itself. One particularly memorable voyage took her by ship from Bombay (Mumbai) to Venice, a five-week odyssey in 1971 that rounded the African continent and passed through the Strait of Gibraltar. In 1975, her travels took her to Japan to visit her son who was living there at the time.

Dolores loved genealogy and learning about her Irish roots, traveling to Ireland at least eight times.

After raising six kids, she decided to go back to school in her early 50’s to become a Registered Nurse. Though she didn’t practice for long, this pursuit exemplified her constant desire to learn and challenge her mind. Even as she approached her centennial year, she kept her mind sharp with daily crossword puzzles, was an avid reader, and maintained her love of walking.

She made all her homes throughout her life filled with beauty both inside and out. She loved nature, travel, foreign languages, and history, and passed on these interests to her children and grandchildren. She had a wonderful eye for interiors and could have run a consignment shop after her nursing career if she wanted to!

Dolores shared her passions generously, inspiring her children and grandchildren with her love of exploration, knowledge, and beauty. She leaves behind a legacy of curiosity, resilience, and a deep appreciation for the world’s wonders.

Dolores was predeceased by her former husband, Paul J. Cifrino, and her sons, Paul J. Cifrino, Jr., and Peter A. Cifrino. She is survived by four children, seven grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren come early spring, and many nieces and nephews.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, January 21 at Saint Gregory Church, 2215 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester, MA 02124 at 10am. Relatives and friends invited. Visiting hours Monday 2-5pm at Dolan Funeral Home, 460 Granite Avenue, EAST MILTON SQUARE. Burial at Saint Michael’s Cemetery, Boston.