It is with the deepest of sadness, that we announce the unexpected death of our precious mother and sister. Dolores, or DeeDee to most of us, was born in Utica, NY the youngest child of the late John J. and Wanda Zielinski Sikora. She was educated at Holy Trinity Grammar School, was a proud graduate of the former UFA and eventually earned her LPN License. DeeDee was united in marriage with Thomas Szczesniak in 1975. Although this marriage ended, they were blessed with three wonderful children. DeeDee had dated Anthony Tartaglia for many years, engaged but never setting a date for marriage. DeeDee and Tony were blessed with two wonderful daughters. DeeDee's family was extremely important and that was evident by the strong bond shared by those who are left to carry on without her. She was currently employed at the Loretto Utica Center and truly loved caring for the elderly. She had a knack for knowing what each individual needed and was more than willing to assist them. She worked with some wonderful people and enjoyed their friendship and working relationship. Prior to working at Loretto, she was an LPN at the Heritage Center. Summertime would find DeeDee working around the house tending her plants/flowers and making the place look/feel "lived in". She enjoyed volunteering at the Boilermaker Road Race working with the water station representing MVPC. She learned knitting from Cioci Helen and was working on an afghan up until she got too sick at times to work on it. DeeDee is survived by her children, Karri Ann and Raymond Hurd Sr, Kenneth Szczesniak, Christopher Szczesniak, Kimberley Tartaglia, Kayla Tartaglia and Sean Redmond, her fiancée Anthony Tartaglia, his son Joseph, grandchildren, Kelsey and Krysta Whittington and their father Brent, whom DeeDee thought the world of, and Raymond Jr. and Zachary Hurd. She was looking forward to the birth of new grandson in February and another grandchild due in June. DeeDee leaves three sisters, that have lost pieces of their hearts, Geraldine and William Cardona, Utica, Johann and Joseph DeCicco, Cassville, and Karen Sikora, Utica, her godmother, Genevieve (Dorothy) Gleba, a godchild Chantelle (Shannie) Sears, aunts and uncles, Gladys (Adele) and Walter Jordan, and Arthur Dobrodiziej, Anthony's family, Josephine Tartaglia, Joseph and Lorraine Tartaglia, and Roger and Marilyn Tartaglia She is also survived by four nieces and nephews, especially her sweetheart, Kelley, six great nieces and nephews, numerous cousins and friends especially childhood friend, Kathy Sears. DeeDee was predeceased by her parents, brothers, John J. and John A. and other close family members. DeeDee's funeral will be held on Tuesday, January 6, 2009 at 9:15 from the Heintz Funeral Home, 1517 Whitesboro St. Utica, and at 10:00 from Holy Trinity Church, Utica. Burial will be in Holy Trinity Cemetery. Calling hours at the funeral home are Monday from 3-7. DeeDee, although we no longer will see or visit with you, no day will go by without your presence being felt. We thank you for being more than a mother, sister, aunt, niece, and friend. You truly were the rock that kept us together in hard painful times. We will do the same for your children. Rest comfortably now, you certainly earned it. Until we meet in paradise. If it was Sunday, it's meatballs with Nonnie Jo.