Dolores Mendoza Obituary

Dolores Mendoza
Born: October 5, 1938
Died: February 19, 2026
Dolores Mendoza passed away peacefully on February 19, 2026.
Born on October 5th, 1938, Dolores was the only child of Martin Kelikowski and Katherine Kelly. Her father died when she was an infant, so her mother changed their last name to Kelly for ease in pronunciation. As a widow, Dolores' mother became close friends with Thomas and Lillian Moran, who cared for Dolores when her mother worked, and became Dolores' foster parents. When she got to high school age, her mother took a position as a cook to The Sisters of Mercy convent that taught at Mercy High School in Chicago, IL, so that she could receive a Catholic education.
Shortly after high school graduation, Dolores met Peter Mendoza, and married him in January of 1959. They had three children together and raised them in Downers Grove, IL where she continued to live until recently. They were foster parents for a short period of time, too. She helped her children sell goods for Scouts and learned "new math" in order to help them with their math homework. Her greatest joys were to have family visit for special occasions like birthdays and holidays.
As a lifelong devout Catholic, she is remembered with fondness at St. Mary of Gostyn Catholic Church in Downers Grove, as being an usher there for several years.
She is preceded in death by her parents; foster parents; husband, Peter Mendoza Sr.; and son, Peter Mendoza Jr.
She is survived by her daughter, Dolores, aka "Dory" (Earl Dean) Duncan of Carpentersville, IL; son, Thomas Mendoza of Rockford; several grandchildren, including Robert (Ashley) Duncan of Naperville, IL, Patrick (Juliet) Duncan of Elgin, IL, Rachel Duncan of Carpentersville, IL, Leah Baier of Manitowoc, WI, and Anthony Mendoza of Omro, WI; and many great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at Holy Family Church in Rockford. For those unable to attend, a recording can be found at holyfamilyrockford.org.