Dolores Angela Borst

Dolores Angela Borst (née Barresi) was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, the eldest daughter of Angelo and Rose Barresi.

Her childhood was quintessentially Brooklyn: Sunday Mass followed by big Italian dinners with the extended family. Dolores and her younger brother, Robert Barresi, remained very close throughout the years, keeping in touch through phone calls, cards, and gifts, and making the journey to visit one another whenever they could. She may not have known enough Italian to be fluent, but she knew all the important words - and made sure we all learned the correct pronunciations: mozzarella, ricotta, struffoli, braciole, and just a few assorted cuss words…you know Dee.

On June 8, 1963, Dolores married Joseph A. Borst. Together, they welcomed three sons: Joseph Jr., Kenneth, and Steven. Their brownstone residence was brimming with three boys, Aunt Edna in the lower apartment, and the Stensland family in the upper apartment. With extended family living within walking distance, large gatherings were frequent, including homemade pizza every Friday. Family vacations upstate at Ferman’s Corners often included upwards of 30 people.

It was also during this time that Dee met her lifelong friend and “sister,” Albina Caracciola. The two shared everything and built a bond that nothing - not even 1,800 miles - could sever.

In 1977, the family moved to Colorado when Joseph transferred to a Postal Police position in Aurora. They purchased the family home on Tufts, where Dee’s boys and their neighborhood friends learned to ride motorcycles, shoot fireworks, and generally be All-American kids.

At age 34, the girl from Brooklyn learned to drive for the first time and began working at the Sears Service Center in Denver. Dee enjoyed the camaraderie of carpooling, swapping recipes with colleagues, and crafting with neighbors. She also loved traveling with Joe to Las Vegas, Laughlin, and throughout every region Colorado had to offer.

Joe Sr. passed away suddenly in 2008. During that difficult adjustment, Dolores found great comfort in the friendships she had built with her dear, longtime neighbors. Dee and her crew would frequent craft sales, Olive Garden, and Red Lobster, but more than anything, she loved going “up the hill” with her gals. It’s unclear who caused the most trouble, but by all reports, Dee always brought life to the party.

The effects of dementia eventually led Dolores and her beloved doggie, Fluffy, to move to assisted living in 2021. Even there, her consistently outgoing and positive demeanor left a lasting mark on staff and residents alike. As difficult as it was to witness her memory struggles, Dee never lost her kind and generous nature. Nothing made her day more than visits from friends and family or joining in holiday celebrations at our homes.

No one knows when Dolores began collecting angels and butterflies, but it is safe to say that gossamer wings have always meant something to her. Her faith ran deep, but more than outwardly professing her Savior, she lived life by His example. We are at peace knowing that she has earned her wings and is with the Lord.

Dolores was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Borst, and her parents, Angelo and Rose Barresi.

Those left to cherish her memory include her brother, Robert Barresi; her children, Joseph Jr. (Cheryl) Borst, Kenneth Borst, and Steven (Cyndie) Borst; nine grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Her family will remember Dee for her laughter, generosity, loyalty, faith, and unmistakable Brooklyn spirit - and for the way she could turn an ordinary gathering into a family story that would be told for years to come.

Visitation September 3, 2026, 10:00-11:00 MTN, Funeral Service 11:00 MTN, reception immediately following the service, all at Horan & McConaty, 3101 S. Wadsworth Blvd., Lakewood, CO 80227. Private interment, Fort Logan National Cemetery.

In Lieu of Flowers: please consider a donation to Alzheimer’s Association: https://www.alz.org/?form=FUNDHYMMBXU