Dolores Donofrio Roy

Dolores Donofrio Roy, who spent her long and generous life enjoying and focusing on her large family, passed away on October 24, 2025 in her Newington home. She was 90.
Dolores, who was predeceased by her husband of 48 years, Lucien Roy, leaves behind four children, 13 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, all of whom received an abundance of attention, care and love. Dolores was known to spend hours shopping for specific and special gifts and cards for her loved ones. Every choice needed to convey how special the person was to her. For years, she and Lou hosted family holiday dinners, with Lou holding court in the dining room and Dolores leading the way in preparation. She was often the last to sit, but it was always with a smile of a day well done.
Dolores was born on August 16, 1935 in Hartford to Rose and William Donofrio as part of a close-knit Italian family. She grew up in the South End of the city, where Sunday family dinners were the norm. When she met Lou, also of Hartford, that joy of family continued as they married in 1957, moved to West Hartford and raised their children. Their Cambridge Street home was the hub for birthdays and other special days. She was noticeably generous and loving to the spouses of her children and grandchildren, immediately making them feel they were part of her family.
The age of smart phones brought extra joy to Dolores as some of the family, especially grandchildren, had moved away or started college. Making expert use of her phone, she was able to call and text her grandchildren almost daily. Someone's sniffles was a call for her concern, and an achievement or new photo resulted in her praise.
Dolores also worked for most of her adult life, helping to make sure her children would have access to a college education. Her final job was working in customer service for JC Penney. She was always fashionable, even into her final years. She had a great eye for outfits, and looked especially trendy with her winter choices.
Dolores was predeceased in 1995 by her brother, Leonard Donofrio, Sr., and in 2005 by her husband, Lucien Roy.
She leaves behind her children: son Steven Roy, his wife, Margaret, and their daughters Elizabeth Zimmerman and her husband Michael, and Abigail Sotherland and her husband David; daughter Michelle Beutel, her husband, David, and their children Christa, Eric, John, Dominic and Elayna Beutel; son Matthew Roy, his wife, Dorothy, and his daughters Jessica Ortiz and her husband Al, Lillian Haber and her husband Jason, and Teresa Roy; and daughter Dianna Konrad and her husband Jim, and their children Jackson and Annie.
Dolores, known by them as "Dodo," also leaves seven great-grandchildren: Lucie, Millie and Francine Ortiz; Calvin and Everett Zimmerman; and Layla and Isla Haber.
She also leaves behind many cousins, relatives, and friends, including sister-in-law Barbara Donofrio and her children Christine Donofrio and Leonard Donofrio Jr., along with Christine's children Shannon Rooney and Teagan Rooney.
Dolores also leaves behind good friends Shirley and Dee, whose loving care allowed for Dolores to remain in her home until her passing.
Visitation will be held at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 30, at the Sheehan Hilborn Breen Funeral Home, 1084 New Britain Ave., West Hartford, followed by a 10:30 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Brigid Church, 1083 New Britain Ave., West Hartford. Burial will be in West Meadow Cemetery, 679 Willard Ave., Newington, where Dolores will be laid to rest next to Lou.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to one of Dolores' longtime favorite charities, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, at stjude.org. Online condolences may be made at www.SheehanHilbornBreen.com