Dolores Mae, the oldest child of Helen and Charlie Stevens, grew up in Maywood. She attended St. Eulalia school, Trinity High School, and DePaul University where she met her future husband, Dan Bailey. They married in May of 1951 and made their home over the years in Wauwatosa, Villa Park and, finally, Elmhurst in 1960. Together, Dolores and Dan had 9 children, 26 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren and counting.
Dolores’ faith was central and truly foundational in her life. She was an avid reader who could often be found curled up with an enjoyable book. She participated in many clubs and activities throughout her life including golf, bowling, bridge club and eating club. Yes, despite her petite size, she was often the person in the room who refilled their plate most frequently – often more than every man in the room!
Dolores was a kind, generous person who loved to gather with family and friends. Her home was often the site of enormous holiday gatherings with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren filling the house with love, spirited conversation, and laughter and enjoying her delicious meals. Friendships were so very dear to her, especially with her lifelong best friend Theresie-baby. Nothing kept Dolores from getting to Therese’s house, even trekking across town in the deep snow!
She was a wonderful mother and grandmother who loved to hang out with her children and their families. She created magical summer days when she would happily take the station wagon packed full of her children and friends up to Phil’s Beach for fun summer days at the beach. Birthdays and holidays were always incredibly special at the Bailey house as Dolores made sure each child had their favorite cake, pop and presents to celebrate!
Dolores was an avid sports fan with her favorites being the Chicago Cubs and Green Bay Packers! The fall of 2016 was a joyous one for her as she celebrated her beloved Cubbies winning the World Series into the wee hours of the morning. As a proud Packer’s stockholder, she loved the treks up to Milwaukee to cheer on the Packers at County Stadium! Walking into her home, you often heard the roar of crowd noise as she had the Cubs, Packers, Blackhawks, or Notre Dame games blaring!
Dolores hosted New Years Eve, New Years Day and St. Patrick’s Day parties that were legendary! An exceptional host, she fed most of Elmhurst with her delicious corned-beef and cabbage dinner, New Years Day breakfasts and summer bar-b-ques, and provided thousands of whiskey sours, old fashions and Irish coffees over the years.
Dolores was, preceded in death by her parents Helen and Charlie, siblings Chuck, Audrey and Peg, her husband Dan, and her son-in-law Carl. She, is survived by her children Dan, Mike (Debbie), Kathy Sutton, Patti (Jeff) Darley, Jim (Janelle), Chuck, Joanne (Mike) Cabbage, Carol (John) Caruso, and Tim; her grandchildren Andrea (Yehuda) Atias, Sandy (Britt) Pope, Kelly Sutton, Carl (Angela) Sutton, Jason (Tessa) Darley, Kim (Brent) Seeley, Ryan (Chelsea) Darley, Kyle (Alesha) Darley, Helen Bailey (Sean Flynt) , Patrick (Sam) Bailey, Sara Bailey (Aaron Riske), Erin (Ben) Torrisi, Emma, Kailyn (Eric) Stefan, Collin (Kasey) Bailey, Jay Caruso, Hannah Bailey, Josh Cabbage, Maureen Bailey (Alec Biese), Belle (Trae) Bobillo, Micah (Adam) Trautman, Jacob Cabbage, Henry Caruso, Sophie Caruso and Mila Bailey; Great Grandchildren Melanie, Ella and Vanessa Atias Nora and Sully Flynt; Teddy and Winny Torrisi; Vinny and Mateo Solana, Thomas Pope, Ciara and Trent Sutton, J.J. Perkins, Braden and Stella Nelson, Case and Connor Seeley; Zoey, Nora and Julia Darley; Hunter, Bayleigh and Lakelyn Darley; Nolan and Mason Darley; Roman, Camden and Easton Darley; Eloise Stefan; and Hudson Trautman.
Dolores touched so many lives over the years and shared so much love. She will be missed by many family members and friends and is so very loved. Somewhere in heaven there is a heck of a celebration, and the whiskey sours are flowing – Sláinte!
A visitation was held on Monday, September 30, 2024 at Elmhurst Community Funeral Home – THE AHLGRIM CHAPEL, 567 South Spring Rd. Elmhurst. A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Tuesday, October 1, 2024 at Visitation Catholic Church, 779 South York St. Elmhurst.
For information, please contact Elmhurst Community Funeral Home – THE AHLGRIM CHAPEL, (630) 834-3515 or www.ElmhurstFH.com.
