Dolores A. Ward

Dolores A. Ward (nee Topley) 89, passed away peacefully surrounded by family at her home on Sunday December 31 2017. Born June 23, 1928 in Mt. Pleasant, PA, she was the 8th and youngest child of Slovak immigrant parents, Stephan and Elizabeth Topoli. Dolores graduated from Ramsey High School and St. John’s School of Nursing in Pittsburgh PA. Later, at age 57, Dolores graduated from Indiana University in Bloomington, IN. and received a Master’s Degree in Religious Studies from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh. She was preceded in death by her husband Elmer, whom she met as a patient while tending to him as a nurse after his car accident; and her son James, both passing suddenly many years ago. In addition to Elmer and James, Dolores was preceded by five brothers, Andrew, Stephen, Michael, Joseph, and Johnny Topley; her sister, Sister Mercedes; and one son-in-law, John Andrews. She is survived by three children; Patrick (Anne) Ward, Barbara Ward Andrews, and Michael (Tracie) Ward. She was the proud grandmother of 10: granddaughters, Erin and Mary Andrews and Emily Ward, and grandsons, Patrick III, Brendan, Daniel, Matthew, Joseph, Connor, and Kieran, along with one great grandson, James Thomas. Dolores is also survived by her sister Betty Ancira, age 97, of Richmond, IN. Despite faithfully dealing with several personal setbacks, including her breast cancer diagnosis at age 38, she developed a life-long devotion to Christ and His teachings. She served as the Director of Religious Education at both St. Philomena’s Parish in Beaver Falls, and Saints Peter and Paul Parish in Beaver, bringing many new parishioners to the Catholic Church via the RCIA program. To support her family, she held a variety of other jobs throughout the years including a school crossing guard, school nurse, and Resident Assistant at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, IN. One of her happiest times was spending the summers at Maple Springs NY on Lake Chautauqua. The friendships she developed there were very important to her. She also traveled extensively throughout her life with trips to Korea, Haiti, Taiwan, the Holy Land, Republic of Slovakia, and Ireland. Dolores will be most remembered for her profound faith in Jesus and her dedication to teaching His beliefs through her example and organized events. Her understanding of the Bible led to deepening the faith of many believers. Even in the last days of her illness, her mantra was “Jesus I trust in You.” Her recent Christian message started with, “I shall not die but live, and proclaim the marvelous works of the Lord!” Friends will be received Friday, January 5, 2018 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM and 6:00 to 8:00 PM in the Noll Funeral Home Inc. 333 Third Street, Beaver. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, January 6, 2018 at 11 a.m. at St. Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church, Beaver. Interment will follow at the Beaver Cemetery. Online condolences may be shared at nollfuneral.com In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Dolores’ name may be made to Saints Peter and Paul Parish, 200 Third Street Beaver PA 15009 or The Ward Family Scholarship in Honor of James S. Ward, Development Office, The University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame IN 46556