Dolores Lenze

It is with profound sadness we announce the peaceful passing of Dolores Rowene Elenor Lindenmuth Lenze, age 89, of Ridgway, PA on July 4, 2025, at Laurelbrooke Personal Care facility in Brookville, PA after a lengthy illness.

Dolores was born April 8, 1936, in Dagus Mines, PA to Edward and Frances Johnson Lindenmuth. On December 5, 1953, Dolores married Frederick George Lenze at St Leo's Church in Ridgway, PA.

Dolores was a lifelong resident of the area. Over the years she was a member of Maria Lutheran Church in Dagus Mines, PA, Bethlehem Lutheran Church and the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ridgway, PA. Over the years she enjoyed raising her family, caring for her home, volunteering for Meals on Wheels, playing cards with family and friends, dining out and dancing with her loving husband on Friday nights. Later in life she also enjoyed trips to the casinos and their winter home in Arizona. Most of all she enjoyed spoiling her grandchildren, great grandchildren and two beloved dogs Charlie and Missy.

During her lifetime, Dolores experienced many first and unusual experiences. Dolores often spoke of how exciting it was growing up with so many visitors to their home as they were the first family in their town to own a black and white tv set. She also jokingly remembered the day the sky went dark in midafternoon and told her friends she had to get home to go to bed (Sept 24, 1950 better known as Black Sunday when western PA went dark starting around 3 pm. No one ever found out why - Eclipse? Aliens? Canadian Fires? ) Dolores also enjoyed the excitement of having the first microwave oven in Ridgway and one of the first inground pools. Her most thrilling experience was while on their honeymoon in December 1953, attending the ringside boxing match in Chicago, IL and seeing Chief Don Eagle box and being interviewed live on tv.

She is survived by her husband of 71 years Frederick G Lenze Sr, four children Frederick (Marsha) Lenze, Bradley (Mary) Lenze and Laurie Laughner of Ridgway. PA and Michael Lenze of Savannah, GA. She is also survived by five grandchildren and two step-grandchildren. Matthew (Avezel) Lenze, Jessica Morgan, Jacqueline (Steven) Rittenhouse, Christopher Lenze, Lauren (Wayne) Young, Mark (Diana) Rhoads and Timothy (Anji) Rhoads. Dolores is also survived by six great grandchildren and two step-great grandchildren.

Dolores was the last member of her immediate family. In addition to the death of her parents she was also preceded in death by two brothers and their wives John and Joyce (Byrd) Lindenmuth of St Marys, Jerome and Patricia (Russell) Lindenmuth of Baldwin Park, CA and one sister and her husband Anna Lucille and Lawrence Fulmer of Baldwin Park, CA. Sadly, Dolores was also preceded in death by one granddaughter Michelle Laughner of Punxsutawney, PA.

A Memorial Service for Dolores L. Lenze will be held at First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 331 South Street, Ridgway, PA 15853, on Thursday July 10, 2025 at 11:00 am.

Burial will follow at Maria Lutheran Cemetery.

Family and friends will received on Thursday at First Evangelical Church from 10:00 AM until the time of service.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to be made to either the Ridgway Ambulance or Ridgway Fire Department in Dolores's memory.

Krise Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 130 Center St., Ridgway, PA 15853, is handling the arrangements and online condolences may be offered to the family at www.krisefamilyfuneralhomes.com