Dolores Lorraine Whamond died peacefully in her Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, home on January 1, 2025. She leaves behind her husband of 43 years, William E. (Bill) Whamond, who was her loving caregiver during the final years of her life.

Dolores was also the mother of Heather Whamond of East Hartford and Keith Whamond of Norwalk. She was step-mom to Will Whamond (deceased), and Elizabeth Whamond of San Jose, Calif.; grandmother of Rebekah Whamond Miller of Chesapeake, Va. and Tegan and Billy Whamond of Norwalk. Dolores was the GREAT-grandmother of Lavinia Jo Miller of Chesapeake. Dolores is also survived by her loving sister Marie Siefring and brother John Siefring. Her sister Dawna Doyle predeceased her.

Dolores was born in The Bronx, New York, on December 8, 1948, and was one of four siblings — her oldest sister Dawna Siefring Doyle, her older sister Marie Siefring, and her brother John Siefring. She also had a half-brother, Arthur Simmons of Philadelphia, Tenn. Dolores was raised by her grandparents in the Bronx.

Dolores was a woman of strong Christian faith, which saw her through a lifetime of physical challenges and chronic pain. She suffered from severe osteoarthritis all of her life; at age 12 doctors told her she would likely never walk again, due to the effects of the disease. But they didn’t know Dolores. In her lifetime, she endured 54 major surgeries, of which 42 were related to joint replacements — she would joke “I’m more metal than anything else” and “I have none of my original parts.” But she indeed walked for decades.

After missing her junior year of high school due to the osteoarthritis, Dolores graduated from St Simon Stock High School in Fordham Heights in the Bronx in 1967. Despite her health issues, Dolores got her first job at the local Woolworth’s, so that she could pay her school tuition. For the rest of her life, Dolores expressed her gratitude for Sr Mary Judith, the principal at St. Simon Stock, for taking both her and her cousin Mary under her wing during their time at the school.

Dolores married her first husband Frank MacNamara in 1973. They soon welcomed a baby girl, Heather. After being abandoned by her husband, Dolores and 3-year-old Heather found themselves in New Milford, where, as a single mom she became involved in a local church.

On January 31, 1982, Dolores married Bill Whamond, and they started a new family along with his two children, William J. and Elizabeth Whamond. Their son Keith was born later that year. Dolores was a devoted, loving mother to all four of her children, and later to her adopted granddaughter, Rebekah.

Dolores and her family were active in the community of Bethel before moving to Newtown in 1995. She shared her faith as a leader and teacher in Christian women’s ministry. Dolores became a faithful and active member and Bible teacher at Walnut Hill Community Church.

Dolores and Bill moved to the Outer Banks of North Carolina in 2010, where Dolores was active as a leader and Bible teacher of “Mom’s Group” at Liberty Christian Fellowship, in Colington.

On Friday, January 10, 2025 a funeral and Celebration of Life service will be held at 11 am at Liberty Christian Fellowship Church, 244 Williams Drive, Colington, N.C., with a reception to follow at the church. A graveside service (family and close friends) at Southern Shores Cemetery in Southern Shores, N.C., will follow at 2 pm.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to Liberty Christian Fellowship Church-Camp Emmanuel Building Fund, 244 William Street, Colington NC 27958 or at https://libertyobx.com/give. Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family via the online register at gallopfuneralservices.com.