Dolores J. Garro

Dolores Garro, aka Dolores the Florist, age 96, passed away May 28, 2025. Dolores was born in Chicago to Duilio and Elizabeth Paccagnini. She grew up on Superior St, went to Holy Rosary Church, Chopin grammar school, Immaculata High School, and DePaul University She was preceded in death by her husband George Garro Jr., and her brother Dewey,Jr. She is survived by her daughter, Joyce, and her son, Raymond (Fran); Grandchildren Kimberley (Michael), Anthony (Hayley), Jeanine (Brandon), GiaMarie (Jared), Great-grandchildren Hannah, Macie, Heath, Parker, Olivia, and Vincenzo. She still has many first cousins that she always kept in touch with, and many nieces and nephews.

Dolores was the founder of “Dolores the Florist”, and together with her son, Ray, they built a successful business, serving many special events, countless weddings, funerals, parties, always with a sincerity to make the celebration special, personal, and pleasing to the customer. Ray’s daughter, Jeanine, also worked in the business, learning from her Grandma Dolores and dad, Ray, becoming a top designer and wedding planner.

Dolores was a multi-talented beautiful woman. She played the accordion since being a young girl and was very good, especially singing and playing Italian songs! She was very involved with the ladies Auxiliary of Knight of Columbus Fr Breen Council, with her husband George. She chaired many events, put on Fashion Shows, modeled in them, sang and performed in shows, bowled every Weds night, active in her church, sang in the choir…

Dolores was very proud to be Italian-American. Kept in touch with her family in Italy, made countless family dinners, and went to her 75th high school Reunion in 2021 with her best friend, Babe.

Dolores was a “fashionista”, always well-dressed, loved to shop at Joseph’s for too many pairs of shoes (lol), She’d buy Vogue patterns and her dear friend Eva would sew her beautiful outfits. She was a great dancer, loved music, and had a memorable laugh, always wanting for everyone to have a good time.

She unconditionally donated her time and money whenever she could, and was the greatest mom, always making sure her children were well educated and learned the importance of volunteer work. One could write a book about Dolores. She was so loved and will be greatly missed by so many.

Many thanks to the beautiful nurses and team from Residential Healthcare Hospice, who took such great care of Dolores to the end.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Lung Association or the Wounded Warriors.  Links can be found below to donate.

American Lung Association:
Lung.org/Give

Wounded Warrior Project: supportwwp.org/wwp