Submitted by: Dan Rich

Dolores Sergio

May 18, 1931 - Jan. 18, 2008

South Bend Tribune 1/19/2008
NILES - Dolores "Dee" Sergio, 76, of Niles MI passed away at 4:41 a.m. on Friday, January 18, 2008, at the home of her daughter after a one-month fight with cancer.

Dee was born on May 18, 1931, in South Bend, IN to Joseph and Rose (Sgambelluri/Kambol) Muia. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband of 37 years, Anthony P. "Tony" Sergio. Dee graduated from St. Joseph Academy in 1949 and worked at the South Bend Federal Saving & Loan before marrying on July 31, 1954 at St. Matthew's Catholic Church and becoming a full-time mother and housewife. Dee is survived by one daughter, Rosanne (Al) Scott, and four sons, Dr. Paul A. (Peggy) Sergio, Dr. Joseph P. (Terri) Sergio, and Anthony P. (Jenny) Sergio, all of Niles, MI, and David J. (Liz) Sergio, Esq. of Buford, GA. She is also survived by 19 grandchildren, Anthony, Danielle, Mark, Gabriel, Carl, Jennifer, Christopher, Nathan, Ross, Matthew, Sophia, Jared, Hannah, Michael, Christine, Nicholas, Jonathan, Zachary, and Jacob. In addition, she is survived locally by her brother, Joseph Muia and her sister, Patricia (Mike) Druley, and another brother living in Florida.

She was preceded in death by her sister, Gloria Muia, who died only 1 day prior to Dee's death. After many proud years of being a wife, mother, and grandmother, when the family business started growing, Dee could often be found at Sergio's Pools and Spas, where she assisted her sons for five years. In 1991, her husband developed cancer and died within two months of his diagnosis.

This experience led her to become a very active community volunteer at Hospice of St. Joe County, Memorial Health System Spiritual Care Office, the Leighton Senior Citizens Center as a hospital volunteer, and as a Discussion Leader for a seniors group at Christ the King Catholic Church. In 2005, Dee was nominated as "Volunteer of the Year" with Real Services. She was a lifelong resident of South Bend, and previously was a parishioner of St. Jude's Catholic Church and St. Matthew's Cathedral. Dee was also a long-time member of the Bible Study Fellowship. Even while in the hospital during her last days, she encouraged her family to offer the hope of Jesus Christ to other terminal patients in the cancer ward. In her later years, Dee began to explore her other interests, including international travel, playing the piano, taking continuing education classes, and learning to ride a 10-speed bike at the age of 68. Dee enjoyed Italian cooking and hosting family and friends to large dinners. She was a gift from God and continually blessed others with her talents and abilities, as she invested most of her time in prayer groups and in caring for others' needs. If Dee could be remembered for one thing, it would be as a servant of the Lord, recognizing Jesus as her Lord and Savior.

Visitation will be from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sunday, January 20, 2008, in the Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 North Bendix Drive, South Bend, IN. The Rosary will be prayed there at 4:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Christ the King Catholic Church at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, January 21, 2008. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Mishawaka, IN. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Citizens for Community Values of Indiana, P.O. Box 8293, South Bend, IN 46660, or Hospice at Home, 4017 Chamberlain Road, Buchanan, MI 49107.