Dolores Cherella Donovan, 72, of Rochester Hills, Michigan, passed away on Sunday, January 9th at the home of her daughter in Weston, Connecticut and in the company of her family.

 

Dolores was born June 29, 1938 in Batavia, New York, daughter of the late Charles and Louise (Rapiti) Cherella. Born of Italian heritage, Dolores was strong-willed and passionate. An idealistic rebel and political activist, Dolores was an avid supporter of feminism, peace, ecology and human rights; her values defined by a lifetime pursuit of equality, justice and respect for nature. Despite her delicate health, she was a regular volunteer in community projects in the Detroit area, where she lived for many years and where she raised her two children. 

 

Dolores was a dedicated and reflective reader with broad intellectual interests enjoying art, music, history and literature. Witty, bright, colorful, and warm, Dolores made many close friends by virtue of her magnetic personality, delicious cooking and selfless generosity -- she was loved by all who knew her. Her compassion was unsurpassed as was her love for her family, her friends and the animals she cared for, particularly her cats. She was a devoted daughter, wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She will be greatly missed.  

                                                      

Survivors include her daughter, Tiffany Donovan Green and her husband Anthony Green of Weston, Connecticut, her son, William Michael Donovan and his wife Angela Donovan of Clinton Township, Michigan, her former husband and close friend Bill Donovan of Rochester, Michigan, and four young grandchildren, Kelvin, Julian, Claire and Matthew, with a fifth granddaughter expected in April.

 

A Celebration of Life Memorial will be hosted on Sunday, May 8th at the Rochester Community House, 816 Ludlow, Rochester, Michigan 48307 from 1 – 6 pm. Memorial contributions in memory of Dolores may be made to Wildlife in Crisis, P.O. Box 1246, Weston, CT 06883.   Please contact wildlifeincrisis@snet.net or Tiffany Donovan Green at tiffanydonovan@yahoo.com for more information.