Dolores Paluga

Dolores Ann Dierlam Speed, age 88, of Winnsboro, Texas, passed away the morning of Sunday, December 24, 2023. Dolores was born to the late Amos Truitt Dierlam and Thelma Beatrice Dierlam in Port Lavaca, Texas on October 27, 1935. She was raised by her mother and Cleo Anthony Edwards. Dolores Graduated high school from Southwestern in Waxahachie and has kept up with several of her alumni for many years. A Texas native, Dolores lived in Port Lavaca, Seadrift, Dennison, Dallas, Grand Prairie, Oak Cliff, Pleasant Grove, DeSoto, Rockwall, and Winnsboro. She also lived in Cape May, New Jersey while her husband Joe Edward Speed served in the United States Coast Guard for 4 years.

Dolores was a very strong woman of faith. Her faith in Jesus Christ had an enormous effect on her children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren as well as other relatives and friends. She attended church her entire life.

 Her long-time ministry was sending cards to her loved ones. She also volunteered at Lake Pointe Church as a person that sent cards of encouragement to individuals and families in need and those that lost loved ones. Due to her ministry, when Dolores fell ill over the last 2-3 months, her family received phone calls from numerous people whose lives she had touched. She was steadfast in her ministry and never missed a birthday or any event to be celebrated.

Dolores’ first love was God; however, her family was close behind. The love she expressed to everyone who knew her is undisputed. Dolores’ death was preceded by her parents, two brothers Wayne and David Dierlam, and her daughter that passed at birth in 1958. During her last few months, she spoke about looking forward to meeting her daughter in heaven.

She is survived by her dear friend and father of her children, Joe Speed, her four children Keith Speed (Cathy) of Winnsboro, Texas, Steven Speed (Dena) of Heath, Texas, Charisse Shadley (Jim) of Lewisville, Texas, and Traci Marion (Greg) of Jupiter Florida. She is also survived by six brothers, one sister, ten grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren, and three more great grandchildren on the way.