Dolores J. Pish

1935 - 2025

Dolores Jane Pish, 89, long-term resident of New Kensington and recently of Hopwood, PA, died Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, in WVU Uniontown Hospital with her loving family by her side. She was born in Pittsburgh on April 12, 1935, to the late Harry and Stella Archacki Lacey and had been a resident of New Kensington since 1958. Dolores was a devoted member of St. Mary of Czestochowa Roman Catholic Church, New Kensington, and was very proud of her Polish heritage. She had a very strong faith and knelt in prayer every night with her children as they were growing up. She felt that keeping Polish and Slavic traditions alive was important and passed that love of tradition down to her children and grandchildren. Dolores, along with her devoted husband Richard, strove to provide a warm and loving home, and she never failed in that endeavor. Though struggling financially at times, the two of them would never allow their children to know that to be the case, and they both sacrificed greatly for their family in every way. She was an excellent seamstress when need be and could patch up a pair of pants like a professional. She made dresses for her daughter, shirts for her son, and great Halloween costumes for her children and grandchildren as well! She canned vegetables, made wonderful pies from scratch, and was as superb a cook as one could find. As a young mother, she welcomed, fed, bandaged up, and loved the neighborhood children as if they were her own, and as her children grew older and left to discover what life had in store for them, she found great joy in having her children's friends stop by to visit, often with their pets and children, sometimes for snacks, sometimes to just sit on the porch and talk, and always for the warm feeling of love and caring she had for everyone. Over the years she had worked for West Penn Power, the American Red Cross, and the former Family Services of Western Pennsylvania, currently Wesley Family Services. However, she was best known as an accomplished accordionist and as a highly sought-after baker. Starting at the age of eight, she performed on KDKA radio on the show Starlets on Parade, emceed by Ed Shaughency, and over the years won many accordion competitions, eventually going on to have her own music studio and accordion orchestra. She played for many major events in and around Pittsburgh before getting married, and after her children were born, she confined her musical career to teaching many students in her home, a number of whom went on to national acclaim. As she got older, she developed a passion for baking, producing thousands of nut rolls, poppyseed rolls, and apricot rolls, as well as innumerable cookies of all types, all handmade from her tiny kitchen. Every item had to be perfect, or it would not leave her kitchen, and she took great pride in the quality and the flavor of everything she made. Family was everything to her. She was a devoted wife of 68 years to her husband, whom she made sure was well-fed, properly dressed, and on time for work, even when he was at times working three jobs. She made her children feel special and loved every day, never letting them leave the house with uncombed hair or dirty clothes, insisting that they be respectful and kind to others, and making sure that they attended school without fail. To her, every band concert was like a symphony, every chorus concert was a Broadway show, and every art project brought home was a Picasso. Nothing, however, compared to the unconditional love she had for her four grandchildren, whom she adored greatly. The joy that they brought her over the years was immense. She also cherished the closeness she had with her brothers and sisters-in-law, with all of her nieces and nephews, and with all of their extended families. She is survived by her husband of 68 years, Richard John Pish; son, Dr. Richard (Dr. Lori Wilson) Pish of Hopwood, PA; daughter, Deborah (James Jr.) Nardelli of New Kensington; and four grandchildren, Jessica, and Sarah Nardelli, and Stephanie, and Richard Pish II. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her stepfather, Henry Kubit. Friends will be received Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at THE RUSIEWICZ OF LOWER BURRELL FUNERAL HOME, 3124 Leechburg Road, at Alder St. Additional visitation Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, from 10 a.m. until the funeral service at 11 a.m.. Burial will follow in Mt. Airy Cemetery, Natrona Heights. The family suggests donations made in her name to a charity of your choice. www.RusiewiczFH.com