Dolores Conway Sporleder

Dolores (Conway) Sporleder, age 92, died peacefully of natural causes on April 4, 2020 at home in Bonita Springs, Florida, with her husband, Kenny, at her side.

Dolores was born on Aug. 10, 1927 in Marengo, Illinois to the late Frank and Ella (Metlicka) Holy. She was raised on a small farm and attended Kanaly school, a one-room schoolhouse that served Seneca and Marengo townships. Her family then moved to Woodstock where she was enrolled at Woodstock High School and graduated in 1945.  After which, she worked in the office of the Autolite.

Dolores and her first husband, William “Bill” Conway, had seven children:  Kathleen, Timothy, Denise, Michael, Diane, Mary, and Daniel. When their marriage ended, Dolores raised their children on her own while working at the Piggly Wiggly/Eagle Foods for 18 years in Woodstock, Crystal Lake, and Carpentersville. She married Kenneth Sporleder in 1977.

Dolores was a member of the VFW and Mariola Club, and a parishioner of St. Mary Catholic Church in Woodstock until 1985, when she and Kenny relocated to Florida.

Never one to know a stranger, Dolores made friends easily everywhere she went and continued many lifelong friendships. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, who adored her large family. Dolores had many fond memories of her times spent “Up North” in Lac du Flambeau and Minocqua, Wisconsin. Throughout the years, she loved traveling with her daughter, Kathleen, husband, Kenny, and a number of close friends. She enjoyed her trips to numerous countries around the world, particularly to Costa Rica, Ireland, Germany, and Thailand.

Dolores is survived by her husband of 42 years, Kenneth, daughter, Kathleen (Michael) Sullivan and son, Dr. Timothy (Kathy) Conway all of Woodstock, daughters Denise (Richard) Gaylord of Mesa, Arizona, and Diane (Thomas) Lord of Johnstown, Colorado, daughter-in-law, Linda Haddock Conway, son-in-law, Stephen Sankey, sister-in-law, Gloria Holy, niece Sue (Holy) Van Steele, in-laws Ronnie “Jock” (Connie) Sporleder, Larry “Butch” (Mick) Sporleder, Pat (Walter) Suhr, Judy Rank, Linda Sporleder, Earl Keller, 18 grandchildren, and 24 great grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her brother, Frank, infant brothers, Orvil and Edward, sons Michael and Daniel, and daughter Mary, in-laws Walter and Evelyn Sporleder, Marilyn (Dave) Ladehoff, Virgeane Barron, Richard “Poncho” Sporleder, Shirley Keller, David Sporleder, Jerry “Bud” Sporleder, and Jim Rank.

A celebration of Dolores’ life will be held in Woodstock at a later date.  Dolores requested that donations may be made in her name to Avow Hospice, 1095 Whippoorwill Lane, Naples, Florida 34105, whose kind and compassionate care she received during her final two years.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Dolores Conway Sporleder, please visit our floral store.