Dolores Graceta Escalona Sipin Watson
Born November 5, 1957 in San Diego, CaliforniaPassed September 24, 2024 in Melbourne, Florida
Dolores was born in San Diego, CA 66 years ago. Her late father, Domingo P. Sipin, who served 30 years in the U.S. Navy, took the family from San Diego California to New Orleans Louisiana, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Patuxent River, Maryland, White Sands, New Mexico, Guam, Seattle, Washington, then Virginia Beach, Virginia as part of his career.
Dolores, nicknamed “Wo” by her family, grew up with five siblings: four sisters and one brother, being the third eldest. Her late mother, Paulina E. Sipin, mostly raised her family, as her dad was away on submarine deployments or working. With both parents from the Philippines, Dolores grew up with a blend of Filipino and American cultures.
Just out of high school, she met her beloved husband, Louis Watson, affectionately called, Blue. They lived their days in Chesapeake, Virginia. Dolores served as an office service specialist, in the Chesapeake Health Department of the Commonwealth of Virginia, retiring in 2015 after 35 years. She also enjoyed working part-time with QVC for 25 years, where she enthusiastically took advantage of her deep employee discount!
Her beloved Blue passed away in May of 2012, leaving Dolores with their fur babies, kitties Max and Mimi. She devoted her life to them and to her family and friends. In 2016 to be with her Mom after her Dad’s passing in 2014, she moved to Indian Harbour Beach, Florida. Most of her days were spent enjoying her big family who mostly reside in neighborhoods within close proximity to her. With lots of nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews; she had plenty of people to dote on.
Dolores has a heart of gold; her family and friends consider her ‘one of the sweetest people that lived’. Her most generous and loving heart immediately put people at ease. And when you got to know her, you would spend lots of time laughing. Her fabulous sense of humor, funny quips and accents, kept everyone smiling. She hated conflict and drama and was a true peacemaker. She was extremely loyal. Her youngest sister Donna said “She watched over me, loved me unconditionally and encouraged me to live out my dreams.” She continued this generosity throughout her lifetime. EVERYONE loved her.
Dolores, whose courageous battle with health complications during the last 10 years, came to an end after a major fall and multiple surgeries that she did not survive. Her body was unable to endure the strain despite her brave fight. No longer in pain, she found her peace and passed away on Tuesday, September 24.
In celebrating her life, her parents Domingo & Paulina, her husband Blue, and her brother Dominic, are also remembered as Dolores has reunited with them in heaven. They are missed so very much as well. Dolores will have her ashes scattered with Blue’s ashes in the mountains of Tennessee, where Blue was from.
She is survived by her four siblings, Jovita Olive, Maria Carter (Michael), Bernadette Piccolella and Donna Gutierrez, her eleven nieces and nephews, David Randall (Marilyn), Angela Randall (Jen), Nicole Jones (Brian), Dominic Carter (Kristi), Alanna Irons (Ryan), Frank Piccolella, Brianna Mench (Brandon), Arianna Peters (Zeke), Chloe Tyler, Patricia Jewell (Rick) and James Allen and her twenty-three grandnieces and grandnephews, Paris Bishop, Aaron Mandel, Marley Randall, Mia Randall, Kiya Randall, Aiden Jones, Declan Jones, Lillian Jones, McKenzie Carter, Wyatt Carter, Makayla Irons, Gypsy Piccolella, Quinn Piccolella, Ava Mench, Leona Mench, Finnley Mench, Riley Mench, Penelope Mench, Iziah Peters, Zen Peters, Raven Lawhorn, Amber Jewell and Jacob Jewell.
Dolores is also survived by her fur babies, Max and Mimi. They gave her much comfort, especially in these last few years of Dolores’ life.
A No Host Celebration of Life Memorial Dinner will be held on Saturday, September 28, 2024, from 5:30pm to 7:30pm at Texas Roadhouse, 941 E. Eau Gallie Boulevard, Melbourne, Florida, 32937, one of Dolores’ favorite restaurants. On Sunday, September 29, 2024, the family will attend a 10:30am Mass at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, 3050 North Highway A1A, Indialantic, Florida, 32903. Then immediately after, the family will gather at the gravesite of Dolores’ parents and brother at Florida Memorial Gardens, 5950 S. U.S. Highway 1, Rockledge, Florida, 32955 for a special prayer time.
A private family viewing, prayers, and a blessing with Father Peter Cordeno of Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church were held on Saturday, September 28, 2024. A public Celebration of Life Memorial Dinner was held immediately after at Texas Roadhouse, Indian Harbour Beach/Melbourne, Florida, one of Dolores’ favorite restaurants. On Sunday, September 29, 2024, family and friends attended a Mass at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, Indialantic, Florida; then gathered at the gravesite of Dolores’ parents, brother and niece at Florida Memorial Gardens, Rockledge, Florida, for a special prayer time.
Two additional memorials will be held in 2025, dates TBD, in Chesapeake, VA, then immediately after, followed by the scattering of Dolores’ and Blue’s ashes in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee.
Donations/gifts can be made through Maria Carter at 619-964-8606, [email protected], or at 684 Corbin Circle, SW, Palm Bay, Florida 32908.