Dolores Jean "Nana" Finnerty

May 18, 1936 - Oct. 3, 2010

Dolores Jean Finnerty experienced her "Heavenly Birth" on Sunday, Oct. 3, after a brief illness.

She was the youngest of four children to John and Ethel (Smith) Vandervort on May 18, 1936, in Glassport, Pa.

Dolores grew up in Sewickley, Pa., where she attended school and graduated. Later, she would meet and marry the love of her life, Merle Joseph Finnerty (Bones). Together they made their home in Baden, Pa., along with their two children, Deborah Lynn Brook (Finnerty) and Merle Joseph Finnerty Jr. (Joe), both of Vacaville. It was during this time Dolores accepted the Lord as her personal Savior; which she found comfort after Bones passed away in 1971.

In 1984, Dolores joined both her children in Merced, Calif. She attended Merced Community College and also worked there. When she wasn't working or studying, she was a Red Cross volunteer at Castle Air Force Base. She also spent countless hours at the local nursing home visiting people who didn't have family. In 1987, she once again followed her children to Vacaville, Calif. Dolores would remain in Vacaville for a few years ,then back to Pennsylvania, and then finally back to Vacaville, permanently, in 1999.

Shortly after returning to Vacaville, she got her dream job with Solano Community College as an extended campus assistant at Travis Air Force Base. She loved working with the military and helping them achieve their educational goals. Dolores loved decorating the office with the latest season or holiday d\écor. Later, she moved to the Vacaville campus where the staff and students came to love her. The last few months she had moved to the Vallejo campus where she found the students so kind to her. Dolores had many friends at Solano Community College and looked forward to each day with her staff and students.

Dolores' two main purposes in life were to serve her Lord and to care for her children. You knew not to disturb her in the early hours of the morning, because that was her time to read her Bible and worship. She was constantly praying for family, friends, co-workers or people she didn't even know.

Dolores was a devoted and loving mom to her children. While raising them, she always made sure they went on vacations, had grand birthday parties, took them to the drive-in theater to see a scary movie, or just open her home to her children's friends to hang-out or go swimming. Her children loved playing practical jokes on Dolores and on one particular occasion she made her young son, Joe, undress outside because she knew he had a snake. Only problem is she didn't know he hid the snake in his folded clothes. Once Joe came in the house you could hear a blood curdling scream for miles!

Dolores enjoyed life and the people she met to the fullest. She always felt the need to show compassion to those less fortunate, especially the homeless. Her other passion was traveling with both her children while they were in the Air Force. Along with them she got to see the world! When she wasn't taking care of all her plants, she would be relaxing reading a good book.

Dolores is survived by both her children; son-in-law, Gary Brook; and daughter-in-law, Charmaine (Woodard) Finnerty. She leaves behind six grandchildren, Christine (Finnerty) Dedominicis, Meagen Finnerty all from Pennsylvania; Kelli and Ryan Brook; Jasmine and Sean Finnerty, all from Vacaville; and two great-grandsons, Shawn Jr., and Logan Dedominicis from Pennsylvania.

Dolores was preceded in death by her parents, John and Ethel; brother, Ernie; sister, Mary; husband, Bones; and great-grandson, Aiden.

Our family is so thankful and appreciative for the loving support and prayers of so many friends and family. We would also like to extend our thanks to the staff at NorthBay Medical Center for their compassion and helpfulness during our mom's extremely brief illness.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Dolores' name to two of her favorite charities - St. Jude's Children Hospital, Mission Solano, or a charity of your choice.

Friends are invited to attend the visitation to be held on Thursday, Oct. 7, from 5 to 8 p.m., at McCune Garden Chapel, 212 Main St., Vacaville.

Friends are also invited to attend a funeral on Friday, Oct. 8, at 2 p.m. by Pastor Stephen Brook at McCune Garden Chapel. A reception will follow at the home of Gary and Debby Brook, 278 Lisburn Way, Vacaville.

Burial will take place at Economy Cemetery, Ambridge, Pa., at a later date.

Arrangements are by McCune Garden Chapel, 448-6546, www.mccunechapel.com.