Dolores E. 'Tota' Sandene

WAKEFIELD, Mich. - Dolores E. "Tota" Sandene, 82 of Bessemer, died Monday, Nov. 9, 2015, in Wakefield.

She was born Oct. 19, 1933, at the Newport Heights Hospital in Ironwood, daughter of the late Louis and Elizabeth (Marzari) Facchinello.

She grew up in Palms Location in Bessemer and lived there in her later years. She graduated from the A.D. Johnston High School in Bessemer with the class of 1951. She was proud of her Italian heritage.

She met her future husband Ed Sandene in 1954, and they were married on Feb. 19, 1955, at St. Sebastian Catholic Church in Bessemer.

During those early years she worked at the Honz and Becker grocery store and at the Kelto and Velin grocery store. In 1970 the family moved to Phillips, Wis., because of her husband's transfer. During this period she worked at the Phillips Gamble Store and got involved in teaching catechism to young children from St. Anthony's Church.

In 1975 the family moved to Park Falls, Wis., and Dolores would continue being a part of the community. She got involved at the local thrift shop which led to a position at the new Holiday Super Market store which was built there. She became manager of the doughnut shop which preceded the deli. The thrift shop also led to her collecting of Depression glass and other collectibles. A group which was lovingly called the "Glass Ladies" would meet monthly for "show and tell." The bond was so strong that they would come from Park Falls to meet in Bessemer and Dolores would go there for meetings.

Later Dolores was active in the startup and organization of the Bessemer Area Historical Society. She did her share through all those years.

She is survived by her husband, Ed, of Bessemer; one daughter, Lisa (Ed) Verhelst of Hastings, Minn .; two granddaughters, Jessica Sandene and Tess Mlejnek; a great-granddaughter, Autumn Dolores; and one grandson, Michael Sandene.

In addition to her parents, Dolores was preceded in death by her son, Timothy in 2002; four brothers, Emmanuel, Louis, Eugene and Alfred Facchinello; and her sister Theresa Parolari.

Cremation has taken place at the Range Crematory in Hurley. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, Nov. 14, at noon at St. Sebastian Catholic Church in Bessemer. Father Antony Lukka will be the celebrant. The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. until the time of the service at the church. Inurnment will be in the Hillcrest Cemetery in Bessemer.

Memorials can be made to the Michigan Tech Fund/Timothy Sandene Memorial Scholarship at Michigan Tech, 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, MI 49931.

Private online condolences may be sent to [email protected]. Arrangements are by Range Funeral Service and Crematory, Frick-Zielinski Funeral Home in Bessemer.