Obituary of Dolores Williamson

Dolores A. "Dee" Williamson passed away October 17, 2023 after 97 blessed years on this earth. Dolores lived her life as an example to everyone who came in touch with her. She was a beautiful loving daughter born into a strong Irish family (Riley) surrounded by loving aunts, uncles, and cousins. She excelled at everything she did from dancing, academics, business and then later into teaching where she taught 5th grade at East Hill in Camillus for almost 19 years. She graduated from Syracuse University with a Bachelors (Phi Bette Kappa) and then a Master’s degree.

She was married to the love of her life, Clifford Williamson, for 56 years until his death in 2004. During their married life, she took up golf, with Cliff as her teacher, and again excelled winning many club championships at Westvale Country Club and scored the first ever hole-in-one at the annual Herald Journal Hole-In-One contest in 1955 previously held at Drumlins.  Throughout all her accomplishments in golf she remained gracious and humble and a perfect example of sportsmanship. In later years Cliff and she dedicated many hours supporting youth golf around the Syracuse district.

Although she had no children, she was recognized by many family and friends as they named her God Mother for their children based on her life example along with her strong faith in God. She was a member of Holy Family Church for over 65 years. She will be missed by all of the Riley and Williamson family along with others she touched in her life but will leave a living legacy that will be passed on for years to come.

Special thanks to Judy, Sonny, Ellie, Ann along with Shelley and Ed who supported her especially in later years when Alzheimer’s/Dementia robbed her of many of her skills. Thanks to the staffs at Camillus Ridge and The Cottages in Cicero.

Dee was predeceased by her father, Franklin Solinsky; mother and step father, Gladys Riley (Val) Holmquist; and husband, Clifford Williamson.

Survivors: her cousins, Judy (Sonny) McGinley, John Riley and Ellie Riley; nephew, Richard (Doreen) Williamson; grand niece and nephew, Michele and Patrick (Heidi) Williamson; Colin and Drake Williamson.

A calling hour will be 11:30am to 12:30pm Wednesday, October 25, at Holy Family Church, 127 Chapel Drive, Syracuse. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12:30pm at the church. Interment will follow in St. Mary's Mausoleum, DeWitt, NY.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association of CNY, 5015 Campuswood Dr Suite 102, East Syracuse, NY 13057 (alz.org/centralnewyork) or Holy Family Church, 127 Chapel Drive, Syracuse, NY 13219 (holyfamilysyr.org)