Dolores Carol Merrell

Dolores Carol Merrell (Pugliese) passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family during the last days of her life.

Dolores was born on December 22, 1939, and raised in Nutley NJ, the youngest of 10 children born to Emidio and Rachela Pugliese. She spent her first 60 years in Nutley raising 3 children, volunteering at Holy Family Church as a CCD teacher and with Marriage Encounter, and bowling among other volunteer activities. She loved to have family over the house and enjoyed many holiday meals and family re-unions.

Dolores led a simple yet fulfilling life, always putting her family and friends first. Her greatest strength was the love she had for those around her, ensuring everyone was taken care of before herself, especially when cooking a meal. She cherished spending time with her immediate and extended family, particularly during holidays and special events. She completed her education at high/vocational school, and worked as a hairdresser and in retail, but her most cherished role was being a mom and grandmother. She enjoyed gardening, cooking and making her house look beautiful inside and out and enjoyed spending time with the neighbors.

In her retirement, Dolores was a dedicated member of the Italian American Club, Thunder Lanes Bowling League, and a parishioner of St. Mary’s of the Pines Catholic Church. She was a nonstop dynamo, doing her stretching, calisthenics and 60 pushups a day even a week before her passing, and before her cancer, walking 3 miles a day.

She is predeceased by her husband, Carl Merrell Jr. and 8 siblings, Mary Pugliese (Mee), Priscilla Pugliese (Ciafarone), Vincent “Joe” Pugliese, Sue Pugliese (Tisseker), Emil “Red” Pugliese, Anthony Pugliese, Robert “Bobby” Pugliese, Anna “Ronnie” Pugliese (Pinckney)

She is survived by her children: Rachel and Chris Sepe, their children Tyler and Nicola; Robert Merrell and his wife Monica Georgallas and their sons Max and Myles; Carl and Joanne Merrell and their children and spouses Katie Romaine (Merrell) and Mike Romaine; and Eric Merrell and his wife Abby Cornwall, and, her brother Lawrence “Sonny” Pugliese.

Dolores will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Her legacy of love and selflessness will continue to inspire those who were fortunate enough to have been part of her life.

Visiting will take place on Tuesday, August 19, 2025 from 10:00am until her Mass of Christian burial, 11:00am at St. Mary Of The Pines Church, 100 Bishop Lane, Manahawkin, NJ 08050. Entombment will be held Wednesday, August 20, 1:00pm at Glendale Cemetery, Bloomfield, NJ.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network at https://pancan.org or Hackensack Meridian Hospice at www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org/en/services/hospice-care in memory of Dolores.