Dolores Jon (Havens) Marasco, 85, of Franklin died March 30 at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester following a brief illness. She was the wife of the late Dr. Richard Mario Marasco who died in 2015.
Born in Port Jefferson, New York, December 12, 1937, the daughter of the late John and Louise (Kuzmech) Havens, Dolores was raised in Center Moriches and always considered herself a Long Islander. Dolores was the valedictorian of the Center Moriches High School Class of 1955 where she played the timpani in the school band and wrote for the school paper. She was a graduate of Albany State Teachers College with a B.A. in Education, 1959.
While a college freshman she met the love of her life Richard who once described her as the sweetest, prettiest girl he had ever met saying “I’d never met anyone else like her.” Richard and Dolores married soon after her college graduation at a beautiful wedding in Center Moriches with both families in attendance. They had fun together, with Dolores playing the straight woman to Richard’s endless antics. She was an English teacher for several years and later became the manager of her husband’s dental office in Patchogue, NY, where they raised their family. She worked alongside her husband to build a practice which took care of some families for generations.
As a girl Dolores enjoyed sailing the boat that her father built for her, and continued boating with her family, enjoying days in the sun and picnics on the beach. Dolores is remembered for hosting many holiday gatherings, parties, and barbecues with family and friends; there was always room at her table. When her children were in high school, she welcomed crowds of teenagers to her home, preferring to host them than have them be elsewhere. Dolores was an avid reader who would read anything but enjoyed a good mystery the most. She was also active in the Woman’s Club of Patchogue, participating in community service while socializing with friends.
After retirement she moved with her husband first to Wolcott, NY and then to Manning, South Carolina, making new friends along the way. She had been a resident of Franklin since 2016, living at Magnolia Heights where she enjoyed playing bingo, watching “The Crown”, and of course, their book club. At that time in her life Dolores most enjoyed her grandchildren. She was a constant audience member for theatre productions at Franklin HS and the Hockomock Area YMCA Theatre Program, attended Eagle Scout projects, chorus concerts, and smiled while prom photos were taken. Nothing gave her as much joy as her family and she brought much joy to them.
She is survived by her children, Richard A. Marasco, his wife Lezlie and their son Grayson of Quitman, Georgia and Lorraine Marasco Schratz, her husband Regis and their children, Regis, Michael, Daniel, Gina and Thomas of Franklin.
She was the beloved sister of the late Patricia Louise Townsend and sister-in-law of the late Pauline Marasco Saraco.
Her funeral will be held on Wednesday, April 5 from the Ginley Funeral Home of Franklin https://www.ginleyfuneralhomes.com/ 131 Main Street, Franklin at 9:15 AM followed by a funeral Mass at St. Mary’s Church at 10:00. Burial will be at a later date in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Center Moriches, New York.
Calling hours will be on Tuesday from 5-7 p.m.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made in her memory to Kind Hearts for Kids, a non-profit which supports children in foster and kinship care on Cape Cod. https://www.kindheartsforkids.org/ or mail a check to KHFK at 5 Sea Lane, Sagamore Beach, MA 02562.