Dolores Whitehead

Dolores Whitehead, 90, of Ocala, Florida passed away peacefully at her home with family by her side on December 29, 2021. Dolores, a native of Manville, NJ, married the love of her life and soul mate, William, in 1950. Having been blessed with four children, they raised their family in South Bound Brook, NJ for forty years before retiring to Ocala, Florida, in 1992 where they enjoyed many years of love and happiness before her husband Bill’s passing in 2015. Dolores retired from Ingersol-Rand in NJ after 17 years with the company. She was also an Avon representative while raising her children. A devout Catholic, Dolores was a parishioner of Our Lady of Mercy church in South Bound Brook and then upon moving to Ocala, the Queen of Peace church. Dolores enjoyed reading and doing word search puzzles. She also enjoyed going out to lunch with her best friend of 73 years, Carmella (Millie) Swain, who passed away four hours after Dolores. Dolores, Bill and Millie also enjoyed slot machine gambling and as they aged and it became more difficult to travel to casinos, they loved going to the local internet gambling establishments, when they were not shut down, that is! Fun times out! Dolores was loved immensely by her family and her passing leaves a huge hole in everyone’s heart. Knowing that she is in heaven holding hands again with her loving husband provides a great deal of comfort to her family and friends. Dolores is survived by her son William (Catherine), son Thomas (Theresa), daughter Donna Rutsch (Bruce) and daughter Joan Ferrara; eight grandchildren, Michael Ferrara, Kristin Ferrara, Jason Whitehead, Jeffrey Whitehead, Lisa Vassale-Whitehead, Alyson Dolores Whitehead, Randy Whitehead and Daniel Whitehead; and 6 great grandchildren; Reece and Kara McLelland, Will Ferrara, Jacob and Carley Whitehead and Declan Lee. Dolores is also survived by her sister, Jean Peyton of Scottsdale, AZ, as well as several nieces and nephews. Dolores was preceded in death by her loving husband, Bill, her parents, Mary and John Pietruszewski, her brother, John Pietruszewski and her grandson, Jordan Whitehead. A memorial mass for Dolores will be held at Queen of Peace Catholic Church on Friday, January 14 at 8:30am. Interment will follow at Florida National Cemetery where she’ll be laid to rest beside her husband.