Dolores Stella Lau

Dolores Stella LauDolores was born on January 11,1921, in Riverdale, Ill., the daughter of the late Floyd and Dora Vogel. She was one of seven children.

Dolores was preceded in death by her beloved husbands, John Lau and Vincent Newmann; brothers, Joseph (Irene) Vogel and James (Elsie) Vogel; sisters, Florence Schlueter and Dorothy Herman; and stepson John P. (Pamela) Lau III.

She is survived by a devoted family, including daughters, Karin (William) Janik of Redmond, Wash. and Lisa (John) Brennan of Woodinville, Wash; stepdaughters, Cindi (Chuck) Addis of Bakersfield, Calif., Therese (Robert) Birkmeyer of Tinley Park, Ill., Mary (Edward) Schmidt of Cedar Lake, Ind., grandchildren, Erika Janik (fiancée Matthew Jensen) of Madison, Wis.; Timothy Brennan of Seattle, Wash., step-grandchildren. Peter Lau and Charles Lau of Dyer, Ind., Alexander Schmidt of Cedar Lake, Ind., and Christina Birkmeyer, and Robert Birkmeyer, Jr. of Tinley Park, Ill.

Dolores is also survived by sisters, Marion Kaiser of Hamilton, Mich., and Helen (Harry) Mercer of Crossville, Tenn.

After graduating Thornton High School in Harvey, Ill., Dolores held diverse secretarial positions before getting married to Vincent Newmann in 1947 and becoming a homemaker.

They resided in Dolton where daughters Karin and Lisa were raised.

After an extended illness, Vincent passed away in 1972.

In 1981, Dolores married John Lau, also of Dolton, Ill. Five years later, they retired to Woodinville to be near her children and grandchildren.

A lover of flowers, antiques, china and glassware, Dolores combined her passions when she entertained guests. Their "home in the woods" in Woodinville was a source of pride.

Besides spending time with family, they made new friends who became life-long supports. Going to garage sales became their passion, adding to their vast collection of treasures.

After a long and happy run, John’s health failed and he passed away in January of 2009.

Without her soul mate, Dolores’s health also diminished.

After living in Brittany Park for a brief two months, she was hospitalized for congestive heart failure. Dolores died under loving care at Cascade Vista —happily taking the hand of her beloved as she moved to the other side to be with God in peace.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, February 27, at 11 a.m. at St. Jude Church in Redmond, Wash. Guestbook postings can be made at www.MeM.com.