1928
Dolores
2011
Dolores Kelly
July 10, 1928 — September 14, 2011
Dolores “Lori” Pildner Kelly passed away on September 14, 2011 after a brief but courageous battle with cancer. She was born in 1928, the youngest daughter of the late Edward and Kathryn (Bretz) Pildner. A lifelong resident of Summit Township, Lori had the distinction of spending her entire life in the same home that she was born in. The home and its property, fondly referred to as “The Gully”, will not be the same without her.
In 1950 Lori met the late Robert “Smokey” Kelly at the old Allied Trades Club where his band was playing a dance. They married in 1951 and began a five-year journey throughout Arizona where Smokey’s band played at various dance halls and clubs. In 1956 they returned to Erie and “Smokey and Lori” soon became a fixture in the country music community until the time of his death in 1978.
Lori worked tirelessly throughout her life at various jobs, but her fondest memories were from the old Travelers Inn and Muggs Restaurant, WJET-TV, and especially her years with the NextMedia radio stations. A special thank you to all of the overnight and morning team staffs that made her feel such a part of each day. She LOVED you all!
In addition to her parents and husband, Lori was preceded in death by her sister, Beatrice Hugger.
She is survived and will be greatly missed by her daughter, Colleen Cook and her husband, Douglas, of Edinboro; two grandchildren, Kelsey Cook of New York City and Jordan Cook of Erie, brothers John (Jack) Pildner and his wife, Lynetta, of Ashtabula and Edward Pildner of PierPont, OH; and her beloved companion, John Colvin and the entire Colvin family. She is also survived by many, many nieces and nephews.
Friends may call at the Glunt Funeral Home, 210 Erie Street, Edinboro, on Friday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. A service will be held there on Saturday at 11:00 a.m.
Burial will be in Laurel Hill Cemetery.
Memorials can be made to the Kanzius Cancer Research Foundation, 130 West 8th Street, Suite 216, Erie, PA, 16501 or the ANNA Shelter, 1555 East 10th Street, Erie, PA 16511-1712 . To send condolences please visit www.gluntfuneralhome.com
In 1950 Lori met the late Robert “Smokey” Kelly at the old Allied Trades Club where his band was playing a dance. They married in 1951 and began a five-year journey throughout Arizona where Smokey’s band played at various dance halls and clubs. In 1956 they returned to Erie and “Smokey and Lori” soon became a fixture in the country music community until the time of his death in 1978.
Lori worked tirelessly throughout her life at various jobs, but her fondest memories were from the old Travelers Inn and Muggs Restaurant, WJET-TV, and especially her years with the NextMedia radio stations. A special thank you to all of the overnight and morning team staffs that made her feel such a part of each day. She LOVED you all!
In addition to her parents and husband, Lori was preceded in death by her sister, Beatrice Hugger.
She is survived and will be greatly missed by her daughter, Colleen Cook and her husband, Douglas, of Edinboro; two grandchildren, Kelsey Cook of New York City and Jordan Cook of Erie, brothers John (Jack) Pildner and his wife, Lynetta, of Ashtabula and Edward Pildner of PierPont, OH; and her beloved companion, John Colvin and the entire Colvin family. She is also survived by many, many nieces and nephews.
Friends may call at the Glunt Funeral Home, 210 Erie Street, Edinboro, on Friday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. A service will be held there on Saturday at 11:00 a.m.
Burial will be in Laurel Hill Cemetery.
Memorials can be made to the Kanzius Cancer Research Foundation, 130 West 8th Street, Suite 216, Erie, PA, 16501 or the ANNA Shelter, 1555 East 10th Street, Erie, PA 16511-1712 . To send condolences please visit www.gluntfuneralhome.com
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