Dolores M. “Dee” Gruener, age 89, passed away peacefully on October 5, 2014 at Family Hospice in Pittsburgh.

Dolores was the devoted mother of Robert L. Gruener and Kathy (Lee) Fierst; loving grandmother of Christopher (Michelle) Gruener, Jessica (Andy) Manucy, Stacy (Gary) Hawranko, and Stephanie (Doug) Johnston; cherished great-grandmother of Addison Gruener, Owen Gruener, Rachel Manucy, Madelyn Manucy, William Manucy, Joseph Hawranko, Avery Hawranko, Sydney Hawranko, Olivia Johnston, Alyssa Johnston, and fond aunt to many nieces and nephews.

Dolores was preceded in death by her parents Catherine and Henry Roth, stepfather Harry Atkinson, and her loving husband of 61 years Robert F. Gruener. She is survived by her beloved brother John Roth and sister Eileen (Gary) Labans.

Dee was born Dolores Roth in Pittsburgh on May 25, 1925 and attended Perrysville High School on the North Side. It was there she met Robert Gruener, the love of her life. They were married on April 16, 1947. In the early years of their marriage there were a few financial setbacks due to an illness in the family but they always managed to make ends meet, often because Dolores went to work. Having studied business at Perrysville High School, she had the skills necessary to find employment at Rosenbaum Brothers Department Store and Autenreith’s 5 & 10 when the family needed her help. And being a talented roller skater certainly paid off because it landed her a job as one of the first “car hops” at Eat’n Park Restaurant in the 1950s, something she was very proud of.

Dolores and her husband Robert lived on the North Side of Pittsburgh for a while right after they were married but eventually made their home in Baldwin Township in the South Hills where they raised their children. In the 1970s with more women moving into the workforce, a demand was created for qualified day care and having already raised her own family, the table was set for Dolores to pursue a new career as a day care provider out of her now empty nest. Her love of children made her a natural for that job and she spent the next 15 years providing love and care for the children of busy professional women. She was a true “nanny” before the word became popular.

Although Dolores was born in Pittsburgh and died in Pittsburgh, where she really “lived” was on the Allegheny River in Emlenton. Having vacationed there for several years with her husband and family, she was very familiar with and very much loved that part of the Allegheny. So when husband Robert retired in 1984, they decided to spend the rest of their days just “fishin” on the river and they retired there for 25 wonderful years. She always referred to those years as the happiest of her life.

As an active member of St. Michael Church, she did some volunteer work and participated in the “prayer chain” and other church activities. During those years and during her entire adult life Dee was always available to help anyone who asked. This ability to counsel and care for friends, family, children and even perfect strangers with unconditional love and compassion was God’s greatest gift to Dolores. Whether it was in person or on the phone, she was never too busy to help. Dolores spent most of her life being there for others and she will truly be missed.

Family and friends will be received at the Hile Funeral Home Inc., 1204 Kerr Ave., Emlenton, Wednesday from 7 to 9 and on Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Friday at St. Michael The Archangel Roman Catholic Church in Emlenton with the Rev. William R. Barron, church pastor, officiating. Interment will follow at St. Michael Cemetery, Emlenton.

Information, directions and condolences may be sent by visiting www.hilefh.com.