Dolores A. Rycenga of Rochester, New York, died August 15, 2025. She was born October 23, 1926, in New York City, the only daughter of Ralph J. and May Shelton. She grew up in Michigan, where she met her high school sweetheart John A. Rycenga in Detroit. They married in 1948, and had three daughters. They lived successively in Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee, and Fairfield, Connecticut. The family relocated to Connecticut in 1964 when John had the opportunity to become the first chair of the English Department at the newly-founded Sacred Heart University. After John's early death in 1968, Dolores worked as the Director of Social Activities at St. Vincent's Medical Center School of Nursing in Bridgeport, Connecticut from 1972 to 1989. Following her retirement she held a series of childcare positions with Lord Chamberlain Extended Care Facility, Happy Day Child Care, and for individual families. She moved to Greece, New York in 2006, where she was active in Time Out for Women, volunteered at Unity Hospital, and was the recipient of the Eli Rudin Second Half of Life Hero Award in 2019. Since 2023 she has been a resident of St. John's Home in Rochester.

Dolores was a lover of life, of children and pets, of sports and beer. She loved family occasions and good dinners. She championed justice and education. She encouraged every one she met. Dolores took great pride and care in how she dressed, right until her final days. She was proud of each and every one of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Her faith in God and joy in the universe were boundless.

She is survived by her three daughters – Mary Rycenga Shukie and her husband John of Baltimore, Maryland; Jennifer Rycenga and her wife Peggy Macres of Rochester, New York, and Clara Rycenga Marchese and her husband Rick of Irondequoit, New York – seven grandchildren: Liz Shukie Borst and her husband John, Lauren Shukie McHugh and her husband Tom, John Shukie and his wife Maricela, Stephen Shukie and his wife Molly, Miranda Marchese Carroll and her husband Tim, Ricky Marchese, and Lydia Marchese and her fiance Marcel Gietzmann-Sanders – and ten great-grandchildren – John Aidan Borst and his wife Belle, Ella Borst, Anna Borst, Thomas J. McHugh, Mary McHugh, Marisol Shukie, Sofia Shukie, Nadia Shukie, Jack Shukie, and Abigail Shukie. She was predeceased by her beloved husband John Arthur Rycenga (1927-1968), and her half-brother Jerome.

A visitation will be held on Monday, September 1, from 4:00 to 7:00 pm, at the Redgate -Hennessy Funeral Home, Main Street and 4 Gorham Place, Trumbull, Connecticut. Her Funeral Mass will be held at Holy Family Catholic Church, 700 Old Stratfield Road, Fairfield, Connecticut on September 2, at 10:00 am, followed by internment in St. Michael's Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to a light repast after the burial.

In lieu of flowers, Dolores requested that donations be made to the John A. and Dolores Rycenga Scholarship in the English Department at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut. https://www.sacredheart.edu/offices--departments-directory/university-advancement/make-a-gift/ and mention Rycenga Scholarship in the Comment section. Please also note in memory of Dolores Rycenga; or mail checks mentioning the Rycenga Scholarship to Sacred Heart University, University Advancement, 5151 Park Avenue, Fairfield, CT 06825.

John A. and Dolores Rycenga Scholarship in the English Department at Sacred Heart University
University Advancement, 5151 Park Avenue, Fairfield CT 06825