Dolores Esslinger

Dolores Esslinger, beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully September 7, 2025 at the age of 99. She was the daughter of Joseph and Josephine Novak and the devoted wife of the late Robert Esslinger.

Dolores grew up in a close-knit family and was preceded in death by her siblings Robert, William, Shirley and Joseph.

She is survived by her four children: 

William Esslinger,

 Robert (Cordelia) Esslinger, and their children: 

Jonathan (Erica) Esslinger, and their daughters Emma, Rose, and Charlotte, Blair (Manny) Rivera

Carole (Russell) Damske, and their children:

Maxwell Damske (Sheena Sayad)

Alex Damske (Tania Moaton)

Susan (Brian Walsh), and her daughter:

Kylie Sawyer, currently serving in the U.S. Navy

Dolores lived a life marked by creativity, resilience, and unwavering devotion to her family. She will be remembered for her warmth, her generous spirit, and the countless ways she enriched the lives of those who knew her.

A stay-at-home mother for many years, Dolores filled her home with love and artistry. She wrote poetry in her spare time and was a gifted quilter, embroiderer, and crocheter—skills she not only practiced but passed on to younger generations through teaching. When her husband’s health began to decline, Dolores returned to the workforce, beginning a new chapter at Goldblatt’s in Hillside, Illinois. She started as manager of the candy department and eventually became manager of the floor and rug department, where she was admired for her leadership and dedication until the store’s closure.

Dolores later joined Wausau Insurance in River Forest as a Workers’ Compensation claims adjuster, earning a reputation as a fair and committed employee. Even while working full-time, she took on a part-time role at Joann Fabrics, where her love of textiles flourished. She amassed a vast collection of fabric, transforming it into dresses for herself and more than 200 quilts for children in need—each one stitched with care and compassion.

As her eyesight began to fade due to macular degeneration, Dolores adapted with grace. She discovered she could still crochet and began making lap Afghans for residents of local nursing homes, continuing to share her talents and kindness with others.

Dolores’s legacy is one of quiet strength, artistic beauty, and selfless generosity. She touched many lives and will be deeply missed.

Visitation will be held at Northlake Funeral Home on September 11, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to:

Spectrios Institute for Low Vision
219 E. Cole Avenue
Wheaton, IL 60187
Phone: 630-690-7115