Dolores C Waltsak

IN LOVING MEMORY ADDOLORATA (DOLORES) ANGELA MARIE C. WALTSAK

Addolorata (Dolores) Angela Marie C. Waltsak of Colonia passed away peacefully on July 20, 2026 at the Center for Hope Hospice in Scotch Plains, NJ,  at the age of 93. Dolores was born in 1932 in Newark, NJ, the loving daughter of Anthony and Christina (Oppido) Codella.  

She grew up in a cold water flat and told stories of how she shared a bed with her sisters and her mother would wrap warm bricks in a towel and place them near their feet while they slept to keep them warm. Throughout her life she shared one of her fondest childhood memories all the time; how she won a purple 25 cent gumball from the gumball machine at the nearby luncheonette. She was able to get a gob of ice cream and a variety of candy; it was as if she won the lottery. Her maternal grandparents lived upstairs on the third floor and her memories were of sharing Italian family dinners with her large extended family and the tradition of her mother’s ice box cake they would have on Saturday evenings before going to bed. Her recipe is still made today. In 1943, Dolores and her sisters were boarded at St. Anthony’s Orphanage in Kearny after their mother’s unexpected passing.  

Dolores graduated from St Anthony’s orphanage and went on to work at Fireman’s Insurance Company on Broad Street in Newark for many years until she became a mother.  

Dolores, she was known to many as Dorie or Dee. She met the love of her life, James Waltsak, during the mid-1950’s, as they were set up on a blind date by her sister Marion and her husband George, who was my father’s college classmate. They had many similarities; their values; their faith; their devotion to family, as they both came from large families and both lost a parent when they were 10 years old. They were married at Sacred Heart Church in Valisburg, NJ on September 6, 1958 and were married for 49 years until the passing of her husband.

Dolores was a devout catholic. She instilled in her children and grandchildren the importance of family and faith; the power of prayer and to go to church every Sunday. During long car rides from Manasquan the rosary was said instead of listening to music. Mom prayed four-times a day and she prayed for everyone; all deceased relatives and neighbors; she had lists of everyone's names and family would call her to ask her to pray for them or what the intention was; it was really quite amazing.

Dolores was a member of St John Vianney Church since 1965; and a member of the altar rosary society.  As a longtime parishioner she was involved with many functions of the church, her husband ran the food concessions for the annual fair for 37 years; she assisted with prepping and cooking the food in the cafeteria everyday. Every year when the children were growing up; they had their annual Easter egg hunt; block parties; family picnics. Most importantly, were her traditions she had for her family every holiday; the delicious meals and baked goods, especially around Christmas. She made candy cups and would give them to family members and the neighborhood children. Celebrating birthdays was very important and mom always made sure she held your hand as you cut the cake to make your birthday wish. Summers were spent with a vacation at the Jersey Shore and our annual family reunion with the Codella and Waltsak families.

Her grandchildren spent countless sleepovers at her house and enjoyed every moment they shared together. Whether it was learning to garden when grandpa was still alive, helping make dinner, learning to say prayers or learning how to correctly say “Thank you Grandma” when asked something, they were taught to respect their elders. All the grandchildren spent time coloring at the kitchen table. Today they could go into the same drawer at her house and find everything they made when they were children.

As she did not have much growing up she was always giving. Her daughter once told her there was a coworker struggling and the next day she had bags of food to give to this woman. Whenever her children went away there were bags of food packed as she made sure there was enough food for everyone.

Dolores was the purest of hearts and richest of glories. She was a good hearted, genuine, giving, loving mother, sister, aunt, wife and grandmother to every one of us.

Dolores was predeceased by her husband James J. Waltsak, Sr, her parents Anthony and Christina Codella, stepmother Katherine (Lampariello) Codella; and her siblings; Angela, Emily, Rose, Anna, Marion, Elizabeth and a baby boy.

Dolores is survived and forever loved by her four children, Theresa (Steve) of Dallastown, PA; Diane of Clark, NJ; James Jr (Diana) of Scotch Plains, NJ; Martin of Colonia, NJ.  Her sister Lucille; her brother Anthony and his wife Veronica; Her Brother-in-law; Leo (Claire) Waltsak and sister-in-laws:  Claire Waltsak, Barbara Waltsak and Ann Waltsak.  She was the devoted grandmother to six loving grandchildren;  Erica (Bryan); Jessica, Patrick, Matthew, Mary Katherine and Grace Lynne;  a host of loving nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, cousins, godchildren and forever friends.

Family and friends are invited to attend a visitation on Friday, July 24, 2026 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Gosselin Funeral Home, 660 New Dover Rd, Edison, NJ 08820

Funeral services will be held at St. John Vianney Church, 420 Inman Avenue Colonia, NJ on July 25, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.  Burial will follow at St. Gertrude's Cemetery in Colonia, New Jersey.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorial donations be made in her name to St Vincent dePaul Society C/O St John Vianney Parish, 420 Inman Avenue, Colonia, NJ 07067.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Dolores C Waltsak, please visit our floral store.