Dolores Jane Shannon

Dolores J. (Spignesi) Shannon, our beautiful mother, wife, and grandmother, died peacefully on Monday, December 6, 2021 at the age of 90 at Discovery Village in Bradenton, Florida. She will be missed greatly by her family and friends.

Born on May 1, 1931 in New Haven, Connecticut, Dolores was the daughter of the late Richard and Minerva (Townsend) Spignesi. She grew up in Deep River and Stamford, Conn., graduating from Stamford High School. Dolores married Joseph Shannon from Greenwich, Conn., where they lived until moving to Sarasota, Florida in 1971. They recently celebrated 70 years of marriage.

Dolores was an avid reader who loved history, classical music, gardening, and all kinds of animals. She enjoyed knitting and crocheting lovely afghans and scarves for everyone. She was also a skillful seamstress, like her mother. Dolores was an excellent homemaker, cook, and decorator, and worked in interior design, bookkeeping, and as a licensed Real Estate agent. She was a long-time member of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs church in Bradenton. She loved camping, traveling and exploring new places and was involved in her children’s activities, volunteering whenever possible. She will be dearly remembered for her inspirational words, loving care for her family, and her many talents.

Dolores is survived by and will be forever loved by her devoted husband, Joseph W. Shannon, of Bradenton, and her four children, Cynthia Shannon of NC, Christopher Shannon and wife, Barbara Shannon of TN, Stephen Shannon and wife, Lisa Shannon of ME, and Victoria Bellerose and husband, Brian Bellerose, of VA. Dolores is also survived by her brother, William Spignesi of MO, and predeceased by her sister, Jeanne MacDonald and brother, Richard Spignesi.

Dolores greatly enjoyed and felt blessed by her nine grandchildren: Erik Jensen, Andrew Jensen, Karina Zugaj, Jessica Spangler, Kristina Quillen, Michael Bellerose, Thomas Bellerose, Isabella Shannon, and Sophia Shannon, as well as her seven great-grandchildren: Austin, Addy, Kora, Kaiman, Jacob, Cody, and Carter.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to the caregivers at Discovery Village at Sarasota Bay, Bradenton for their care and kindness shown to Dolores.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Memorial Service which will be held Friday, January 21 at 10:30 at the Sarasota National Cemetery, 9810 State Road 72, Sarasota, FL.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Our Daily Bread of Bradenton with the mission of feeding the hungry with compassion: https://www.ourdailybreadofbradenton.org.