Obituary of Dolores Mattie Paul

Dolores Mattie Paul, 94, passed away May 31, 2024. She was born and raised on Staten Island. She attended Tottenville High School and later worked for Bell Telephone in the bookkeeping and payroll department. At 16 she met and fell in love with her future husband Bernard, whom she married in 1950.  They were married for 66 years until his passing in 2016. 

Mattie, as her friends and family called her, would joke that she “retired” at age 28 when she started a family. As her children grew, she became active in various volunteer activities and hobbies. She was an avid birdwatcher, known for her keen eye and ability to recognize birds by their call.  She was often seen walking the woods of LaTourette, binoculars in hand, and participated in the May Day Bird Count.

She always had a welcoming smile to everyone. She was known for her genuine kindness, always ready to lend a helping hand, be it watching a friend’s child, making a dress for someone for a special occasion, or caring for her elderly neighbor or family. She was an attentive listener and had a knack for remembering the details of conversations shared. Her greatest joy was her family. She loved attending her children’s and grandchildren’s life events, be it a school concert, dance recital, soccer game, graduation, or trip to Disney. Her family and friends meant everything to her.

She is predeceased by her husband Bernard and her daughter Dorothea Taormina. She is survived by her daughter Darilyn Paul (Marty), her son Bernard (Beth), her son-in-law Vincenzo Taormina, her grandchildren Victoria, Vinny and Jillian, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.