Dolores Elaine Borda

It is with deep sadness that the family of Dolores Borda, beloved sister, Aunt, cousin and friend, announces her passing on August 26, 2022. Known to many of her friends as Dee, Dolores lived her life with style, grace, and a winning smile.

Born December 19 in Tacoma, WA to Salvatore and Rosalie Borda, Dolores was the second of three children and grew up in a close-knit community of friends and relatives in the parish neighborhood of St. Rita Catholic Church.  She graduated from Stadium HS and made Tacoma her lifelong home, remaining connected to both her extended family and to the St. Rita parish. Along with her brother Louis, she became an accomplished accordion player and member of an accordion band.

Dolores enjoyed a 40-year career as secretary to executives at the National Bank of Washington in Tacoma and its successor banks in Tacoma and Seattle. She forged enduring friendships with coworkers, many of whom became her frequent travel partners.  While in retirement, Dolores volunteered weekly for more than 20 years at the Cascade Regional Blood Services near Wright Park.

Dolores was devoted to her Tacoma family and to her brother’s family in Seattle.  She remained an integral part of the lives of her nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews.  Auntie Dee was good-hearted and caring and gave generously of her time.  She was a vibrant spirit at all our family holidays, celebrations, and parties.  She combined her love of family with her joy of travel by treating her then-young nieces and nephews to delightful trips to the Oregon Coast, Hawaii, Disneyland, San Francisco, and beyond.

Dolores treasured her lifelong friendships. If her family was the keel of her boat, her friends were the sails, and with them she traveled widely.  She had a keen sense of observation and a taste for new cuisines.  Especially meaningful to her were the times she spent with her relations in her father’s hometown in Italy.

Dolores had discerning taste for fine art, photography, and good books.  She recognized the beauty and talent in things well made, be it a cultivated flower garden, French cuisine, or a perfectly executed comedy act.  Her movie memory was razor sharp.  Our sweet aunt became unapologetically competitive in our family trivia games,  but in her characteristic manner she lightened the tense moments with clever witticisms, often in French, always with a smile.

She was a passionate walker, walking for pleasure and for exercise until the end of her life. She walked with friends in the Spokane Bloomsday Runs and other fun runs.  She loved to walk regularly in Wright Park and often ventured into the Conservatory to admire the flora.  While living at Point Ruston in her final year, she logged many miles along the waterfront.

Dolores will be fondly remembered by all who knew her and who were touched by her kindness.  Au revoir dear Auntie Dee.  You are forever in our hearts.

Dolores is survived by her nieces and nephews Deacon Richard (Mary), Jim (Tracy), Thomas (Carol), Rosalie, Marianne Zech (Joe), and John, 13 grand nieces and nephews and 4 great-grand nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents and her brothers Louis and William.

A funeral Mass will be held on Friday, September 9, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at St Rita of Cascia Catholic Church in Tacoma, 1403 S. Ainsworth Avenue,  98405.

In remembrance, the family suggests donations be made in Dolores’s name to the W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory at Wright Park .

The family extends special thanks to MultiCare Hospice, Home Instead, and the staff at GenCare Point Ruston for their care and support of Dolores.