Dolores Spillman

Dolores Mary Spillman (nee Buchanan), age 75, of Newtown Square, PA, passed away on February 25, 2022. Born in Philadelphia, PA to the late John and Mary Elizabeth (nee Orr) Buchanan.

Dolores was the beloved wife of 52 years to Lawrence John Spillman, Jr.; loving mother of Kristine Adams (David Adams) and Lori Martin (Josh Martin); dear sister of John Buchanan (Maryellen Buchanan) and sister Annie Buchanan; and caring grandmother Laura, Isabel, Quinn, Gavin, and Ella. She is also survived by brother-in-laws and sister-in-laws who were just like her biological siblings, Maryellen Buchanan (John), Dennis Spillman, Eddie Spillman (Gerri), Michael Spillman (Tricia), and Kelly Spillman. She is also survived by several nieces, nephews, and great nieces and great nephews, as well as her best friend of 70 years Jeannie Cook.

Dolores loved her family, hanging out by the pool, and the beach. DeeDee, as she was called by her grandchildren, loved spending time with them anytime she could. Every Sunday she would host Sunday dinner at her home. During the summer, you would find her and the family out by the pool, enjoying barbeque dinners and having ice cream for dessert. She was the consummate hostess for a variety of occasions from baby showers, birthday parties, graduations, Thanksgiving dinners and family Christmas Eve parties. More than once she opened her house to extended family for their celebrations as well.

Whether it was giving the kids “tubbies” when they were babies, swimming in the pool, tea parties, card games or watching her favorite team the Philadelphia Phillies it was always an occasion. She was the loudest cheerleader on the sidelines and in the audience for her nieces, nephews, and grandchildren. For the last several years it gave her and Larry much pleasure to take the grandkids to Ocean City, NJ to give them the same experiences they had with their children.

Her favorite artist of all time was Elvis Presley. She enjoyed playing bingo and going to the casino with friends. Some of her favorite things were boat rides and eating well seasoned cooked crabs down the shore.

Dolores has been baptized, confirmed, and married at Clearview United Methodist Church in Philadelphia. For over twenty years she was a faithful member of Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Church in Newtown Square before it closed. Since then, she has been an active member of Advent Lutheran Church in West Chester, PA. Over the years of her various church memberships, Dolores volunteered as a Sunday School Teacher, Nursey aide, church secretary, and altar guild assistant. She took great pride in setting the altar for Holy Communion.

Relatives and friends are invited to her Visitation, Saturday, March 5, 2022, 9:30 – 11:00 AM at the Advent Lutheran Church, 1601 Green Lane, West Chester, PA  19382, followed by her Funeral Service, 11:00 AM.  Interment private.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Dolores’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org or Compassus Care Newtown Square Hospice, 2 campus Blvd., Suite 200, Newtown Square, PA 19073.