Dolores Diane Szymanowski

Dolores Szymanowski, 74, of Dowagiac, passed away on Monday, December 12, 2011 at Royalton Manor in St. Joseph. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, December 17, 2011 at St. Joseph First United Methodist Church, 3003 Leco Ct., St. Joseph with Pastor Wade Panse officiating. Burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Dowagiac. Friends may visit from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. Friday, December 16, 2011 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to Hospice at Home. Those wishing to share a memory of Dolores may do so online at www.starks-menchinger.com. Dolores was born on March 1, 1937 in Chicago, IL to Leonard & Mildred (Kankiewicz) Bugy. Her family moved to St. Joseph while she was young then settled in rural Dowagiac. On September 10, 1960 she married Richard Szymanowski in Dowagiac where they lived and raised their family. They had 30 wonderful years together before his death in 1990. Dolores spent many years working for the W.I.C. Program in Dowagiac. In her spare time she enjoyed shopping, reading, cooking, music, and traveling. Her favorite trips were to Northern Michigan as well as a special 25th wedding anniversary trip to Hawaii. Most of all Dolores cherished the time she spent with her family and friends. Dolores is survived by her sons Brian (Sheila) Szymanowski of St. Joseph and Mark Szymanowski of South Bend, IN; grandchildren Tyler, Jillian, and Jasmine; sister Sharon (Walter Kuriata) Nelson of Dowagiac; sister-in-law Cheryl Bugy of Dowagiac; and many nieces and nephews. Dolores was preceded in death by her parents, husband, infant son Bradley, sister Connie Clevenger, and brother Leonard Bugy.