Dolores Rollis

Our Beloved Dolores passed away peacefully on May 11th, 2023, at the age of 94. Born Dolores Sally Matlosz in Elizabeth, New Jersey, to parents Joseph and Salomeja (both from Poland), she was the youngest of nine children. She was a longtime resident of San Jose, Calif., and was preceded in death by her parents; her siblings; husband Anthony (Tony) Charles Rollis; and son Anthony (Tony Jr.). She is survived by daughter Patricia (Tricia) Hensley; son David; grandson Daniel; great-grandchildren Trenton and Weston; and numerous nephews and nieces.
She was husband Tony's biggest fan and protector, always on his side, at his side, always so supportive for 72 years of marriage, in states and countries far and wide. Even after Tony's death, as he lay in his beautiful United States Air Force insignia coffin, Dolores, absolutely heartbroken, stroked his hair and whispered, "Oh, my silver fox." Tony couldn't have found a more supportive and gracious spouse from the moment of meeting Dolores in 1949 all the way to after his passing, she was his best friend and soul mate.
Dolores raised three children while Tony was active military. Her love and support of her children knew no bounds, and hell would befall anyone who spoke unkindly about her children. She, along with Tony, did a great job as parents. They raised three intelligent children who worked hard and kept it humble. Humility is simply a Rollis trait.
Her voice, especially her laughter, had a lyrical "love of life" sound to it, and she enjoyed being around friends and family more than anything in the world. She was always up for fun and socializing, and in her earlier years, even bowling. Dolores had a great, giddy laugh. And a lovely, occasional salty-sailor sense of humor. She could laugh with the best of them, especially after telling her funny stories and recollections. She spoke her mind and she wasn't afraid in the least to share her opinion on any topic. She was after all, an extremely strong woman, honorable and forthright. A longtime military wife, too - a strong woman decades before the term "strong woman" became fashionable.
Dolores loved playing games after a big family meal. She would run and get whatever her favorite game was at the moment and set it down on the table and prepare it. She was a tough competitor, practically ruthless when it came to winning games, cards, dice, you name it. And bingo of course (she had the prizes to prove it). She would take the win without the slightest hesitation, a gleeful look on her face while she did it. She loved gambling, and would travel to casinos at the drop of a hat, even by donkey if that was the only way to get there. You could say that slot machines were probably her favorite machines ever built.
Dolores was known as a great cook. Family members would come from miles around just to make sure they didn't miss her delicious lasagna, which was her signature dish for many decades. She had perfected it. And every single person who ever tasted it, knew it. To this day, all of her friends and family judge other lasagnas by the bar Dolores set, and none have yet found lasagna that was as delicious, and made with such care and love, as hers.
As family arrived during a holiday, she would be working away in her kitchen and it was best that you stayed out of her way, though she always had time for a hello and hug. She ran a fast kitchen, where everything was timed to be completed at a certain moment. She had her methods and techniques, and she would manhandle heavy pots of boiling pasta or potatoes into a colander, only asking for assistance in her later years. She always had the energy to make her renowned Piggy cake and other desserts, too. Her table service was better than any restaurant out there. She never sat down immediately, making sure everyone had their food and drinks first. When everyone was happy and content and busy with their own meals, she would finally sit and enjoy her labors. She was an expert at making sure you never left her home hungry.
Dolores loved decorating her home with knick-knacks, especially mementoes and souvenirs from her travels. She enjoyed Christmas a lot, placing out her beloved Christmas decorations and figurines each year, sprinkled throughout her home, some carefully arranged on fake snow, with bowls of chocolates here and there, and a tree with colored lights and ornaments reflective of her cheerful personality. She had a love of Santa as hearty as his laugh, because she knew, after all, that young children were always visiting around the holidays. Her sense of interior design was just like her - unpretentious, warm, welcoming, and relaxed, a home where you wanted to hang out.
Dolores was a lifelong, strong believer in her Catholic faith, forever modest and straightforward, and she never wavered along her spiritual path, all the way to her final days. Everyone who had the privilege of knowing Dolores, especially those fortunate friends and family who knew her for many, many years, count themselves truly blessed to have been in her life and will remember her fondly for the rest of theirs.