Dolores Estelle Doran

Dolores Letter Doran was born January 2, 1929, to Daniel and Alice (Breen) Letter.

She was an Heiress of Owen Letter’s Sons Coal. She grew up at 521 East Mount Airy Avenue in Philadelphia along with her siblings Alice Wolf, Ambrose Letter, Joseph Letter, Daniel Letter, Owen Letter, Catherine Campbell and Mary Graham who have all predeceased her. It was there that she would become the roller-skating champion of her block and a proud graduate of Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls.

On July 25, 1953, the doorbell rang for Dolores, it was George Doran there to pick her up. She left the house barefoot in her bathing suit and ran off to be married. Their love story took her to Croydon, Pa., where she would later become the self-appointed Princess of Barryville.

Dolores never earned a paycheck, but she had the most rewarding job as the mother of seven children, grandmother to 31, and great grandmother to 31. Dolores was always the life of the party. You could catch her on the dance floor dancing to “We Are A Family,” and later in life “Apple Bottom Jeans.” With her grandkids, Grandma got low! Other days you could find her in her rocking chair telling stories for hours, outside feeding the cats, or working in the yard. If you knew Dolores you knew she was a nice lady, a real nice lady. She enjoyed trips to the beach, especially Barnegat Light where she loved to see the lighthouse.

The most important thing in Dolores' life was her faith. She was always praying, and if she told you she was praying for you she really was. She enjoyed watching EWTN and praying the rosary. She was a simple woman who lived a beautiful life.

Dolores was predeceased by her husband George Doran Sr., her sons Anthony Michael Doran, George J. Doran Jr., and her twins Daniel and Joseph Doran. She is survived by her children, who took care of her until her very last breathe, Bernadette (Martin) Mena, Owen (Cindy) Doran, Dolores (Kevin) Cleary, Patrick (Jeanie) Doran, Kathleen (Michael) O’Toole, her daughters in law, Katherine Doran and Ida Doran. She will be sadly missed by her 31 grandchildren, 31 great grandchildren, and the numerous people who came into her life and became her family. She was also survived by her special friend Morgan Doran. A special thank you to the Cleary family who opened their home for her.

If you were lucky enough to know Dolores, you were a little better because of it.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend Dolores’s viewing at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 601 Bristol Pike, Croydon, PA 19021 on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, from 10:00-11:00 AM followed by a mass at 11:00 AM.

Interment will take place at Our Lady of Grace Cemetery.