Dolores Josephine DiCurzio Gosciniak

(September 15, 1936 - April 24, 2023)

Loving wife for 36 years of Ronald Stephen Gosciniak (deceased 1996), mother of Ronald Christopher and Jennifer (née Drab) Gosciniak, and Susan Ann (Gosciniak) and Charles A. Drabik. Proud and loving, determined grandmother of Charles Ronald Drabik, Esq. (Dr. Kimberly Berke), Mary Susan Drabik and Anna Marie Drabik. Dolores, known as Auntie Dee to nieces and nephews, was born in the Italian neighborhood of Cacalupo in Detroit, married Ronald in 1960. Their marriage lasted until dearest Ronald passed in 1996. She was the youngest of four siblings (Italia, Anna and Bernardino) born American of Italian immigrant parents, Nazzareno and Vitalina (Valente) DiCurzio. Her engaging personality and thirst for knowledge about the lives of others she met took her through a long and adventurous career path, blessed with family and friends in all walks of life. Dolores won her battle against colon cancer many years earlier, but the Lord decided that fighting ovarian cancer for the second time was not hers to fight and so, in the presence of her caring son and daughter, He called her home to relieve her and bring her to painless and everlasting life. Dolores had a long and vibrant life proving her ability to learn about anything and put it to practical use. Her many positions and accomplishments were more than many women her age have ever achieved. Some of the high points in her life are included as follows:
Lombardi Foods employee at age 15
Graduate of Patronage of St. Joseph 1955, Detroit
Great Scott market office employee
Graduate of Detroit Business School and Wayne State University student who paid her own way through education
Travelers Insurance secretary
Kavan's restaurant manager/ hostess
Bought first home on Detroit's East Side
Moved with family to Fort Lauderdale 1972
Take out restaurant owner with Ronald
Moved back to Detroit's East Side 1975
Joanne fabrics salesperson
Giant Janitorial secretary
Gannett Outdoor advertising secretary
Saint Joan of Arc Church rectory cook
Manager, C'è Simone clothing manufacturer
Manager, Perini's Restaurant
La Tribune Italian newspaper contributor
Michigan Order Sons of Italy program book Director and layout artist
Michigan Order Sons of Italy Loggia Degli Sport founder and president
Italian-American historian cooking demonstrator at Michigan State Folklife Festival
Founder's mother and supporter/member of Mt. Clemens Mustang Club
Salesperson at Parkway Chrysler (nine cars sold in her first month, topping seasoned salespersons), Mt. Clemens
Top salesperson at Alessandra Bridal, Warren
Parishioner / volunteer, St. Peter Church of Mt. Clemens
St. Mary's School, Mt. Clemens lunch room volunteer
Italian-American historian of Cacalupo district of Detroit (work featured in Hart Plaza display and in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Museum, and in the book, Hands Across Michigan)
Historian for City of Mt. Clemens
Active citizen, election worker of Mt Clemens, dubbed the "Real Mayor" under Mayor Laura Kropp
Hobbies: socializing with her grandchildren, landscape and still life oil painting, furniture refinishing, gardening, cooking, bowling, listening to Jerry Vale, Frank Sinatra and Luciano Pavarotti albums, sewing clothes, traveling Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, Toronto, Florida, Las Vegas, New Orleans, Houston, California, Hawaii and Mexico. Her favorite place was whale watching in Hawaii. Dolores attended live theater, concerts and opera, attending hundreds of grandkids' sports practices/games, dance practices/recitals, pet owner to many cats and two dogs, helping to raise her three grandchildren of whom she is very proud. Dolores made easy friends with many people as she loved to get to know everyone around her.
Viewing 10:00am St. Peter Catholic Church, Mt. Clemens, Michigan
Funeral mass 11:00am April 29, 2023 in St. Peter Church
Interment following at Resurrection Cemetery, Clinton Township, Michigan
Dolores' soul will be eternally free and joyful in the embrace of the loving and Almighty Lord.