1
tree
planted in memory of Dolores C Kamrass
Obituary for Dolores C Kamrass
Dolores C. Kamrass
June 27, 1937-February 18, 2022
Dolores Carolyn Kamrass passed away on February 18, 2022 in Middletown, NY.
Mom’s journey through life took her from Brooklyn to Barnard College, Canada to
Middletown, with a few side trips to Europe. Her husband Henry was her beloved
companion on that trip for 54 years. They always believed in the power of
education and immersed themselves in intellectual pursuits, reading and living an
examined life.
Her parents, the late Anthony and Caroline Spinelli also believed in a strong
education by ensuring that she could leave Bay Ridge to attend Barnard. She
rode the BMT and IRT trains to Manhattan and back every day for four years.
In1959, she made eye contact with a dashing intellectual sitting near the air
conditioner in the Columbia University Library on a hot summer day. They
married two years later in the Basilica of Regina Pacis in the old neighborhood,
and promptly moved to the easternmost point of North America in St. John’s
Newfoundland, Canada. They both taught school and learned the ways of the
rugged maritime province. The love of family ultimately brought them to
Middletown after they had children of their own.
Reading was her passion. Over the course of 30 years she taught young
students how to read at St. Joseph School in Middletown and at the Central
Valley Elementary School, and then adults as a literacy volunteer in Middletown.
She devoured books about the English monarchy. She made a warm but
disciplined home, liked to do needlepoint and make wreaths, and attended
meetings of the Women’s University Club. When her granddaughters arrived, she
kept a steady supply of lollipops and chocolate for them to find in secret places.
During their retirement years, Mom and Dad immersed themselves in travel,
reading and Turner Classic Movies. Although they would have preferred moving
to a flat in London, they stayed home and she took tender care of him during his
long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. He called her “his angel.”
Dolores is survived by her sons: Philip Kamrass and his wife Eileen of
Saugerties; Michael Kamrass of Knoxville, TN; her granddaughters Sophia and
Estelle; her nieces Wendy DeGaetano and her husband Joseph, Nadine Herpfer
and her husband Bryan; her nephews Anthony Spinelli and his wife Cristina and
Robert Spinelli and his wife Kim; her sister in law Mary Lee Spinelli, all of Long
Island. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband Henry
Mark Kamrass and her brother Dominick Spinelli.
Thanks also to Karen Banks and many others for being loving neighbors.
Visitation will be held from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm and from 6:00 to 8:00 pm on
Wednesday February 23 rd at Applebee-McPhillips Funeral Home, 130 Highland
Avenue, Middletown, NY. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at Our Lady of
Mt. Carmel Church, 90 Euclid Avenue, Middletown, NY at 10 am on Thursday
February 24 th . Interment will follow at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in
Goshen, NY.
In lieu of flowers, please remember Dolores by having a Mass said in her
memory.
Read More
June 27, 1937-February 18, 2022
Dolores Carolyn Kamrass passed away on February 18, 2022 in Middletown, NY.
Mom’s journey through life took her from Brooklyn to Barnard College, Canada to
Middletown, with a few side trips to Europe. Her husband Henry was her beloved
companion on that trip for 54 years. They always believed in the power of
education and immersed themselves in intellectual pursuits, reading and living an
examined life.
Her parents, the late Anthony and Caroline Spinelli also believed in a strong
education by ensuring that she could leave Bay Ridge to attend Barnard. She
rode the BMT and IRT trains to Manhattan and back every day for four years.
In1959, she made eye contact with a dashing intellectual sitting near the air
conditioner in the Columbia University Library on a hot summer day. They
married two years later in the Basilica of Regina Pacis in the old neighborhood,
and promptly moved to the easternmost point of North America in St. John’s
Newfoundland, Canada. They both taught school and learned the ways of the
rugged maritime province. The love of family ultimately brought them to
Middletown after they had children of their own.
Reading was her passion. Over the course of 30 years she taught young
students how to read at St. Joseph School in Middletown and at the Central
Valley Elementary School, and then adults as a literacy volunteer in Middletown.
She devoured books about the English monarchy. She made a warm but
disciplined home, liked to do needlepoint and make wreaths, and attended
meetings of the Women’s University Club. When her granddaughters arrived, she
kept a steady supply of lollipops and chocolate for them to find in secret places.
During their retirement years, Mom and Dad immersed themselves in travel,
reading and Turner Classic Movies. Although they would have preferred moving
to a flat in London, they stayed home and she took tender care of him during his
long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. He called her “his angel.”
Dolores is survived by her sons: Philip Kamrass and his wife Eileen of
Saugerties; Michael Kamrass of Knoxville, TN; her granddaughters Sophia and
Estelle; her nieces Wendy DeGaetano and her husband Joseph, Nadine Herpfer
and her husband Bryan; her nephews Anthony Spinelli and his wife Cristina and
Robert Spinelli and his wife Kim; her sister in law Mary Lee Spinelli, all of Long
Island. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband Henry
Mark Kamrass and her brother Dominick Spinelli.
Thanks also to Karen Banks and many others for being loving neighbors.
Visitation will be held from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm and from 6:00 to 8:00 pm on
Wednesday February 23 rd at Applebee-McPhillips Funeral Home, 130 Highland
Avenue, Middletown, NY. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at Our Lady of
Mt. Carmel Church, 90 Euclid Avenue, Middletown, NY at 10 am on Thursday
February 24 th . Interment will follow at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in
Goshen, NY.
In lieu of flowers, please remember Dolores by having a Mass said in her
memory.
To plant a tree in memory of Dolores C Kamrass, visit the Tribute Store.
Previous Events
Visitation
Wednesday
23
Feb
2:00 PM
- 4:00 PM
Applebee-McPhillips Funeral Home
130 Highland Ave.
Middletown, NY 10940
Visitation
Wednesday
23
Feb
6:00 PM
- 8:00 PM
Applebee-McPhillips Funeral Home
130 Highland Ave.
Middletown, NY 10940
Service
Thursday
24
Feb
10:00 AM
- 11:00 AM
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church
90 Euclid Avenue
Middletown, NY 10940
Graveside
Thursday
24
Feb
11:15 AM
- 11:30 AM
Orange County Veterans cemetery
111 Craigville Road
Goshen, NY 10924
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