Obituary of Dolores Skinner

Obituary of Dolores Louise Skinner (Dee) 

Dolores Skinner went to meet her Savior on September 20th, 2023 after a brief battle with cancer. She was 89 years old. She was predeceased by her beloved husband John and is survived by her son Gary (Susan), daughter Valerie (Tom) Adams, grandchildren Matthew (Hannah) Adams, Nathaniel (Elexia) Adams, and Luke Adams.

Dolores was born in 1934 to Joseph and Lillian Hebert of Rochester, NY, and grew up in the city’s Southwedge neighborhood. She often shared memories of walks in the neighborhood with her Dad, movies at the old Rexy Theater and ice skating with her pals on the lily pond at Highland Park.

Not long into her twenties, Dee’s brother set her up on a blind date with the brother of the girl he was dating. It was on this fateful date that Dee met her husband-to-be. She married John Skinner in November of 1955.

The couple spent the next few years saving for the house they would build together on the edge of an apple orchard in Penfield. It was in this home that they raised their two children, Gary and Valerie. There were fresh vegetables from John’s garden every summer. The basement vibrated with rock band rehearsals, and the living room rang as Val practiced for violin recitals. Wedding pictures were shot in the backyard.

Dee and John were longtime members of Browncroft Community Church in Penfield and took pleasure in doing God’s work. Dee sang in the choir and was active in planning the church’s annual missionary conference. One year, the couple traveled to France with a group of Browncroft folks to help with the construction of a Christian summer camp.

After losing her dear husband John, Dee adjusted to her new life by continuing to sing in church and community choirs, attending concerts with her friends, and of course, consuming vast amounts of chocolate. She made frequent trips to the West coast to visit her daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren, as well as annual treks to Florida for a few weeks with her Southern buddies.

Dee was a kind, compassionate soul. Her husband John often referred to her as “the peacemaker” for her ability to defuse a tense situation through kindness and humor. Her dry, self-deprecating wit was legendary and stayed with her till the very end. Even the home health aides and Hospice nurses walked away grinning. We sure do miss her.

A celebration of Dee’s life will be held at a future date, on or near her birthday, January 6th. Location and details TBD. Please check this web page for details as they develop.

The Skinner / Adams family would like to thank the staff and volunteers at Shepherd Home, Penfield for their incredible kindness and care during the time leading up to Dee’s passing. They, along with the folks from URMC Hospice, made it possible for us to provide Dee with the care she needed during her final days. Please consider a donation to Shepherd Home in Dee’s memory. If ever there was an organization deserving of your donation, it’s these folks. https://www.shepherdhome.org/