Dolores Angelucci

Dolores Marie Capecci was welcomed into the world on October 19, 1942, by her warm, loving -and big- Italian family. Emidio and Gina Capecci (nee Gabriele) were already the parents of seven children and had endured the loss of their son, Umberto, in the years before “Dee” was born. From their crowded but happy home on Ashburner Street in Philadelphia, Emidio and Gina raised their family. The Capecci children learned the value of hard work, and they were nourished with a steady diet of love and discipline. Dee attended grammar school at St. Dominic’s and graduated from St. Hubert’s Catholic High School for Girls. During high school, she played basketball, listened to Johnny Mathis on the radio and worked part-time at her sister Rose’s hair salon. After graduating from St. Hubert’s, she enrolled in Marinello Beauty School. At age 19, she earned her cosmetology license. Not long after, she inherited Rose’s salon, a proud daughter of immigrant parents owning her own business. She worked hard and, with her skilled hands and creative touch, she earned a loyal following of clients, many of whom became life-long friends. In the 1970’s, despite owning her own busy salon, Dee enjoyed spending summers with her family in Margate, New Jersey, operating the popular Stewarts Hamburgers on Ventnor Avenue. In 1986, after 25 years cutting hair from a basement apartment on Rowland Avenue, Dee moved her business and opened her own salon, Shear Know How by Dee. She continued beautifying clients, family, and friends for another 35 years, until her untimely passing on August 10, 2022.

Dee was blessed with many talents and never missed a chance to share them, because that was how she expressed her love. Her loyal employees and countless clients knew her gift for styling hair, and they enjoyed sharing stories and gossip and advice while sitting in her chair. She loved to cook traditional family recipes and to teach her children and grandchildren how make them. To Dee, you were never too young (or too old) to learn to stir the gravy, knead the dough or bread the chicken. She was an extraordinary baker. Every year in early November, she would start her holiday baking: thousands of cookies of all shapes and sizes, perfectly arranged on tray after tray which she generously gave to her customers, family and friends. Clients were known to book multiple appointments during the holiday season, just so they could come to the salon and enjoy her cookies. She was a talented homemaker and had “the eye” for decorating- knowing just the right color, the perfect spot for artwork, and how to design a room that was warm and inviting. She was equally as talented in the garden, where she loved to dig and plant, water and tend to her flowers and vegetables- all of which thrived under her care. Holidays were her specialty. She made every occasion happy and memorable with delicious homemade food, beautiful decorations and most of all, her pure joy in having as many family and friends gathered into her home as possible. Her energy and enthusiasm for bringing people together to eat and talk and laugh was unmatched.

In 2004, after 62 years as a proud Philadelphian, Dee moved to The Villas at Chancellor’s Glen in Bensalem, to enjoy “La Dolce Vita”. She was known to “occasionally” stop in at Parx Casino. With her typical boundless energy, Dee became the unofficial social director for the Chancellor’s Glen Community. She planned Broadway bus trips, hosted monthly Pancake Breakfasts, organized Soup and Sandwich Night and themed potluck dinner nights. Together with her friends, she organized a hilarious wedding-themed party, with everyone in wedding regalia, and a minister who “married” the bride and groom. For another barbeque, she created an old-fashioned western town, complete with storefronts, gallows and a saloon. Of course, she convinced everyone to come in costume and have their “Wanted” poster to hang in the square. She raised thousands of dollars for each year’s activities by running an annual Community yard sale, which of course included a table for the sale of her famous baked goods. She thoroughly enjoyed spending time with her neighbors. Most evenings you could find Dee and Ed gathered in lawn chairs on the common driveway, with a circle of friends chatting and laughing.

Dee shared the better part of 35 years with her loyal companion, Edmund Tustin. Together they attended many Lions Club events throughout Pennsylvania, enjoyed Phillies games, and cruised the Atlantic. Ed joined in Dee’s many gatherings with family and friends. He was the fitting counterpart to Dee’s effervescence, a calm and reassuring voice for her when she needed it.

Dee’s greatest love was her family. She was predeceased by six of her siblings, Lucy Aquilino (Bill), Rose Martino (Larry), Annie Parisi (Tony), Louie (Nina), Umberto and Emidio Jr., “Jay” (Shirley). She is survived by her sister Ida Hanna (Bob), and many nieces and nephews.

She was the proud, devoted and loving Mom to 5 children: Richard (Jane), Renee Cancelliere, Michael (Frances), Michele Miller and Marc (Karen). With her boundless energy, she filled their homes with beauty, their kitchens with delicious family recipes and their lives with unending love and happiness. She was adored by her nine grandchildren, with whom she spent countless hours babysitting, singing songs, dancing, playing card games, painting, cooking, baking and most of all, laughing. She was thrilled with the arrival of each of her 6 great-grandchildren, who broadened the circle of family to love.

In memory of Dee, her family encourages you to gather your loved ones, share a family tradition, eat and laugh.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her visitation Sunday afternoon 4:00 - 7:00 PM at the T.J. Fluehr Funeral Home 11010 Knights Road, Philadelphia, PA and Monday morning 9:00 AM at St. Dominic Church 8504 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA followed by her Funeral Mass 10:00 AM. Rite of Committal St. Dominic Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Dee’s memory to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 would be appreciated

To share a memory of Dee, please visit www.tjfluehr.com

Florists, all flowers must arrive at the funeral home on Sunday by 12:00 Noon.