Dolores “Dee” Elizabeth Mayer

MAYER
Dolores Elizabeth, (nee Bail) age 93, on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, of West Chester, PA, formerly of Brookhaven, PA.
Dolores was born in Chester, PA of German, Irish and Polish ancestry. This heritage, along with the families’ strong religious beliefs, significantly shaped her future. She was a 1949 graduate of Notre Dame High School and Widener University, in her later years. She married her high school sweetheart right after graduation, September 10th, 1949, later moving to Brookhaven. Unfortunately, after 13 years of marriage, her husband passed unexpectedly at the age of 32, leaving her to be Mother and Father to their two small children, 7 and 11. Her children soon came to realize all the sacrifices she made to provide them with a happy and comfortable home while giving them the tools needed to be successful in life, with “love”, the most precious gift of all, at the top of the list.
Dolores’s husband had been a member of The Jaycees, a global organization known as the Junior Chamber International, and Dolores was a member of the Jaycette’s, both engaging in various community projects, creating social activities and changes within their community. As a part of the Jaycette duties, for multiple years Dolores was a chaperone for young women who competed in the Miss Delaware County pageant, a preliminary to the Miss America competition. Responsible for contestants’ well-being and needs throughout the competition, Dolores played a vital role in maintaining a supportive environment. Herself, a beauty woman, she was always a fan of hair and makeup and was thrilled to use her talents on the contestants.

Upon the death of her husband, Dolores started part-time in the cosmetic department of a large department store chain, eventually becoming the full-time Manager of the Cosmetic’s Department. Her career then progressed to a new position as a billing clerk at Crozer-Chester Medical Center, quickly advancing to Inpatient-Outpatient Billing Supervisor, holding that position for over thirty (30) years, before retirement in 1996.

Although reading was one of her passions, listening to music and dancing were extremely pleasurable to her. Her aspirations initially included the dream of becoming a Radio City Rockettes dancer, but those dreams quickly shifted upon meeting the “love of her life” Young at heart, Dolores was a lover of history and life’s simple pleasures, cherishing quality time spent with her family and friends. Her joy was amplified as she travelled the world with her daughter, family, and friends, venturing off to explore new cultures in various countries and islands, always intrigued with visits to all the historical sites.

Her love of animals started at an early age, riding horses on the weekends and always having a dog at home. That love continued throughout her life, as she added dogs and a cat to her own family. Just prior to her retirement, the last of her three German Shepard’s passed, and she chose not to have any animals, no longer wanting to endure the pain of losing another cherished companion. As a woman of so many interests she enjoyed a variety of activities both intellectual and lighthearted. She was a dedicated fan of ABC News anchor David Muir, finding a particular delight in their shared birthday of November 8th. Her competitive spirit shone through her love of “Jeopardy”, where she often surprised herself by outperforming her own expectations, and found enjoyment solving puzzles presented on “Wheel of Fortune”. She was a true “Movie Star” buff, the only reason her daughter and friends came to have any knowledge of the names of various actors and singers, often challenging their memory, as her memory was never in doubt and remained sharp until she took her last breath.

Beyond game shows, Dolores engaged in modern entertainment and technology. Retirement brought engaging into the digital age, playing computer games, which facilitated friendships with people globally, using online platforms such as AOL Instant Messenger (AIM). Despite everyone’s disappointment when AIM was discontinued, Dolores and friends adapted, continuing their connection through emails, discussing various aspects of pop culture.

A year prior to retirement, she sold her Brookhaven home and purchased a home in West Chester, within the same townhome community as her daughter, as she always wanted to remain an independent woman. When her 49-year-old son tragically passed away, due to a freak truck accident, her and her daughter’s shared loss became the catalyst for their decision to live, mourn, and console one another, as they navigated through their grief. Dolores then quickly sold her West Chester home and moved in with her daughter, two blocks away. Marsha was always seeking to find something good to come out of something bad and found the loss of son and brother allowed them to live together for the next 21 years, developing and sharing so many special memories, enduring love, and enriching their special bond…an unbreakable bond forged in love and strengthened through their life tragedies and experiences.

Dolores was so grateful she and Marsha had been adopted into so many wonderful and loving families of various ethnicities, spending holidays, birthdays, vacations, and many other fun times with them. She cherished conversations with these adoptive families and friends, giving her a powerful way to connect with their culture, while quenching her thirst for knowledge of their roots, deepening her appreciation for the richness, history, and complexity of human experience.

Dolores possessed unintentional humor and always wondered why people thought she was funny. Her joyful spirit, quick wit, and captivating presence touched the lives of all who knew her. She was a fascinating woman with a radiant smile and intriguing personality. Although she will be deeply missed, her spirit will live on through the legacy she created of warmth, laughter and cherished memories for countless family and friends.

Dolores was a devout Catholic and member of Saints Simon and Jude Parish, West Chester, PA. She found solace attending Sunday Mass in person, whenever physically possible, or on a big screen TV at home through our Parishes Facebook page, making her feel as if she was sitting in church. Her deep faith extended to her long-time devotion to Padre’ Pio and nightly reciting of the Rosary. After saying the Rosary, she would continue praying for all those on her extensive prayer list, often falling asleep with the Rosary’s clutched in her hand.

Dolores’s only wish was for her son’s ashes to be buried with her. Marsha was able to fulfill her Mother’s wish, with assistance from her nephew, William S. Mayer, III, and D’Anjolell Memorial Home, who completed the legal arrangements to make her wish possible.

At home, over the last five months, Dolores was in Main Line Health’s Palliative Care and on her final day, was in Main Line Health’s Hospice Care at Paoli Hospital. Dolores passed peacefully, holding her daughter’s hand, who “reluctantly” passed her directly into the hands of God.

She was predeceased by her husband William S. Mayer, Sr., her son William S. Mayer, Jr., her granddaughter Elizabeth Ann Mayer, and her mother, Helen (nee Lenczynski) Bail Harrison, all with whom she is now buried, and her father, Joseph M. Bail, Sr., buried elsewhere.
Survived by her daughter, Marsha Ann Mayer, her grandchildren, William S. Mayer, III (Caitlin), Melanie Rocci Colfer (John), Edward Rocci, Pamela Rocci Nocton (Scott), and Christopher Knight (Diana), and her 16 great-grandchildren, McKayla, William S. IV, Eric, Emily, McKenzie, Kassidy, Joseph, Daniel, Andrew, Gillian, Scott, Lindsey, Jaydin, Savannah, Delaney and Macklin, one nephew and many nieces, cousins and friends.
Dolores was affectionately known as “Mommie,” “Dee Baby,” “Mom Mom Dee,” and “Momma Dee”!
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in honor of Dolores’ 6-year-old great-granddaughter with Type 1 Diabetes, Delaney J. Knight.
Here are the ways you can donate:
Online: Visit https://tinyurl.com/yycxvzzr to donate directly.
By Check: Payable to “Breakthrough T1D” (formally JDRF – Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), 166 Dilworthtown Road, West Chester, PA 19382
Interment was private, Saturday, August 2nd, 2025, with immediate family and their closest friends. Family and friends will be invited to Dolores’ Memorial Mass, already scheduled for November 8th, 2025, to celebrate what would have been her 94th birthday. The Mass will be held at 12 noon at Saints Simon and Jude Church, 8 Cavanaugh Court, West Chester, PA 19382, followed by a “Celebration of her Life”.

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