Dolores F. Heckert, dedicated homemaker
Dolores Frances (Szymczyk) Heckert, 89, passed away peacefully at Cadia Pike Creek Rehabilitation and Nursing Facility in Wilmingtonon Sunday, July 13, 2014. She was born July 16, 1924, in Kingston, Pa., daughter of the late Leo and Cecilia Poland Szymczyk.
On Aug. 30, 1952, she married John Warren Heckert of Shamokin, Pa., and started their married life in Wilmington. In 1954, they bought their first home in Brookside (Newark), where they started a family. Dolores was a dedicated homemaker and raised three children, while her husband worked full-time and finished his degree at night. John dedicated 40 years to the DuPont Company before retiring to Rehoboth Beach with Dolores, where they built a custom house of his own design.
Dolores enjoyed the sun and sand, as well as daily walks along the Boardwalk with her husband John. As loyal Blue Hens football fans, Dolores and John made frequent trips to support the University of Delaware. Also a Philadelphia Phillies and Jeff Gordon (NASCAR) fan, she rarely missed a game or race on TV.
They lived in Rehoboth Beach until Dolores suffered a stroke in 2010. At that time, Dolores entered Cadia Rehabilitation Renaissance and Nursing facility in Millsboro, and was later transferred to Cadia Rehabilitation Pike Creek in Wilmington. After some health complications, John later entered the facility, and they shared a room until his death in 2011.
Dolores is survived by her three children, Robin Kauffman and her husband Larry of Smyrna, Dr. Jeffrey Heckert and his son, Grayson of Lewes and Keith Heckert and his two children, Kristofer and Matthew of Newark.
A viewing will be held from 11 a.m. to noon, Thursday, July 17, at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes. Private burial will follow at Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Millsboro. A luncheon for friends and family will be held following the viewing.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations in her memory to Autism Delaware, 924 Old Harmony Road, Suite 201, Newark, DE 19713 or at www.delautism.org.
