Dolores 'Lola' Rodriguez, 97, of Niagara Falls, NY, passed away at her residence on December 28, 2021.  Born in Lackawanna, NY, she was the daughter of the late Antonio and Felisa (Nieva) Pena.

Lola earned her Associate's Degree from Bryant and Stratton College in 1945.   On April 26, 1947, she married Ernest Rodriguez.  Mr. Rodriguez predeceased her on April 8, 1979.   Lola was employed at Niagara Falls Board of Education as a Senior Account Clerk, retiring in 1992 after 20 years of employment.  Retirement was the beginning.

Two of her favorite pastimes were driving and painting and with that a new era in her life began, it started with the gas pedal.  She would look for painting classes as I recall she went to a number of them in Georgia, Florida and Ohio and many more.  You've heard of Where's Waldo her children use to play Where's Lola.  More often than not she would get pulled over for speeding and her silver hair and granny glasses would typically get her out of the ticket (although she did spend considerable time in traffic court and driving classes).  She hated to fly and one of her children was going to Hawaii and asked her to go along.  So in true Dolores fashion she said she would drive from Niagara Falls to San Francisco, meet them there and then fly to Hawaii; she made the drive by herself, at the time she was around 78.  She always had a cutting board on the seat next to her so she could cut cucumbers and tomatoes as she drove.  When she couldn't drive anymore it was very tough on her, so she became a backseat driver, which was very tough on her children (we wouldn't have it any other way).  Every Saturday morning, one of us would take her to get her hair done and afterwards to get a DQ hotdog and chocolate Sunday (the woman knew what she wanted).  She continued to paint and developed and an iconic heart card designed to capture the interests and accomplishments of the person receiving: Birthday, Christmas, and Thank You cards it didn't matter.  She was quick witted to the end and it showed in her art.  At 97 she was on Facebook and doing email like a pro.  When she needed hearing aids, she said they had to Bluetooth to her phone (I didn't even know they did that), she was not afraid of technology, like life, she embraced it.

She always told us when the end comes not to cry or feel bad, she lived a good long healthy life.  The night she passed she mentioned every close family member that wasn't in the room by name and said to tell them she loved them, she then told us she wasn't afraid, it was simply her time. And then she asked for an egg sandwich, like I said the woman knew what she wanted. Her children all said good bye and 5 minutes later she decided not to take another breath.

She had 97 good years and one bad week; she lived her life the way people should:

Putting others first

Loving her family

Laughing every day

And never ever feeling sorry for herself

Dolores is survived by her children, Gloria (late Michael) Rodriguez Byron, Jacqueline 'Jacquie' (Dennis) Rodriguez Lentz, and Ernest A. (Irene) Rodriguez; her grandchildren, Kristina (Ani) Gautam and Michelle Giordano; her great-granddaughter, Emma, as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins.  In addition to her husband of 32 years, she was predeceased by her siblings, Joseph (late Margaretta) Pena and Anthony "Skip" (late Magdeline) Pena.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, April 23 from 2 - 4 PM at M.J. COLUCCI & SON NIAGARA FUNERAL CHAPEL, 2730 MILITARY ROAD, NIAGARA FALLS, NY, where funeral services will begin at 4 PM.  Private interment in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Lewiston, NY at the convenience of the family.  In lieu of flowers, memorial offerings may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.  Arrangements by M.J. Colucci & Son Niagara Funeral Chapel.  Visit mjcoluccifuneralchapel.com for online condolences.