Dolores Gostin Kelley

Dolores (Gostin) Kelley, age 98, passed away peacefully on Monday, August 21, 2017. Dolores was born in New Britain, CT on November 7, 1918, to the late Catherine (Nielsen) Pollard and Albert C. Pollard. She graduated from New Britain High School in 1938.

Dolores married Paul P. Gostin on September 14, 1941. They settled in New Britain and later the family moved to Plainville. She became an active member of the Congregational Church of Plainville, serving on many committees there. In time, she became a Deacon of the church. She worked at Stanley Works for over twenty years, retiring at 62.

In retirement, Dolores enjoyed walking and swimming. She participated in a local book club and was an avid fan of the UCONN Women’s Basketball Team. Dolores made and kept many lifelong friends along the way. She loved and enjoyed time with her grandchildren, her great grandchildren, and family members.

Dolores was predeceased by her husband, Paul Gostin and by her second husband, John Howard Kelley; her siblings, Lillian Nowey, of California, Florence Cullen and her husband, William Cullen, of Unionville, and Albert Pollard, of Kensington.

Dolores is survived by her two daughters, Carol Panke and son-in-law, Nicholas Panke, of Bloomfield and Judith Gostin, of Southington; her grandchild, Dalia Panke and Mary Jane Panke, of Vernon; her great grandchildren, Maximillian and Samuel Panke; her grandchild, Eric Panke and his wife, Elizabeth Panke, of Southington; her great grandchildren, Charles and Greta Panke; Dorothy Breski, of Kensington, longtime companion of her late brother, Albert; and several nieces and nephews.

The family thanks the staff at St. Mary’s Home in West Hartford for their kind care in her last days. The family would also like to thank her personal longtime aides, Katherine Wilson and Mishka Gilliffian, both of ComForcare Senior Services of Avon and Dr. Luca DiMatteo D.P.M., of Bloomfield/ Simsbury for his support, advice, and friendship shown to all of us in the last few months.

A service to honor Dolores will be held at 10 AM on Thursday, August 24 at Bailey Funeral Home, 48 Broad St., Plainville, CT. Burial will follow in Fairview Cemetery, New Britain. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to the Plainville Community Food Bank, 54 South Canal Street, Plainville, CT 06062.

 Service Information