Dolores A. Castello

Dolores Ann Jones was born on July 17, 1941 in Brooklyn, New York to Willie and Dolores Jones. She became a big sister four years later when her brother, W. Stanley Jones, was born. Dolores grew up in Brooklyn and spent most of her life in New York. She graduated from Halsey Junior High School in 1956, The High School of Music and Art in 1959, Brooklyn College in 1975, and Long Island University with her Masters Degree in 1977.

Piano would become a big part of Dolores’s life, beginning as a young child. She was the head pianist and organist at Williamsburg Christian Church and taught piano from home every Saturday morning. Even later in life, Dolores could be seen moving her fingers along an imaginary piano if a familiar song was playing.

Dolores was an elementary school teacher with the New York City Board of Education for 26 years, beginning in 1977 and retiring in 2003. She impacted the lives of countless students over the years, many of whom kept in touch with her. Even today, she still has little magnets on her fridge that were given to her from students and she could recall exactly who they were from and when she received them.

Dolores was a woman of faith. She seldom missed a Sunday service and delighted in the musical praise part of worship.

Dolores was a friend, pianist, and teacher, but the role she was most proud of was being a mother. She made many sacrifices for her sons. She knew that her hard work and successes would become their successes. She was a model of perseverance and strength.

Next to being called Mommy, Dolores took great pride in being called Grandma. Marc, Analia, and Bianca brought her great pride and joy. She was a constant in her grandson’s life and after a life with sons and a grandson was completely tickled to have her granddaughters in her life. She was overjoyed at Marc’s successes and delighted in watching her granddaughters grow up.

Dolores is survived by her sons Steven Derrick (wife Maritza) and Marc William (wife Carla), her grandson Marc Terrell, granddaughters Analia Gabrielle and Bianca Abigail, sister in law Helen, niece Erica Helayne, and nephew Denis Stanley.