Dolores was a very special person!!!!  She always brightened up a room with her beautiful smile and that laugh,..Gosh,…I just  loved her laugh and she gave the best hugs!!!  When she hugged you,….it was filled with love!!!  . I have the fondest memories of Harvey and Dolores. Growing up we were practically family!!  If the Byriel’s weren’t at our house, then we were at their house to all hours of the night. The parents loved playing cards and just had such a tight friendship. I miss them both,…as now all four of them have been called home   Much love and prayers to this amazing lady!!!    Love Sherrie Jo Young

Continued…
I don’t eat meat, but I still love the smell of bacon because it always brings me back to grandmas kitchen and her egg dish with hash-browns and cheese. 

She was constantly cleaning or doing dishes and could put her hands in near boiling water without flinching. Maybe it’s in the genes. Jen and I have the same tolerance for hot water. Whenever my husband burns his hands while I’m doing dishes, we have a laugh and blame Dolores. 

She loved to sing You Are My Sunshine because that’s the song her daddy sang to her. She loved her parents and siblings and extended family. I remember riding along for many trips back to Audubon and Kimballton to visit Grandma Ploughman, Chuck and Gloria, and Grandma Byriel. 

And if she wasn’t visiting in person, she was on the phone. She must have made several dozen phone calls every single day. She was always checking in with everyone. She managed to create relationships with everyone she met and made everyone feel special and important.

Grandma had a special gift with people. No one was a stranger for long. If you were in a waiting room with her, or standing in line at check out, she would know your name, your mother’s name, your mother’s sister’s name and what you had for breakfast within minutes.  

There was one time she was at home with young grandkids, I think it was Brett and Kelli, when a sales person came to the door. It was a young man selling vacuums. She mentioned she was watching the Sound of Music with her grandkids. The salesman said he had never seen it. So of course she insisted that he come in and watch with them. And he did! 

Of course I would love more time with this incredible woman. But I’m nothing but grateful for the all the wonderful experiences we’ve  had and beautiful memories we’ve made. 
It is my honor and privilege to keep her goodness alive. I will remember her, I will speak her name, and I will carry on her legacy. 

Her memory is a blessing to me. May her memory be a blessing to you too.

I’ve read that in the Jewish faith, when a loved one passes, they say "May her memory be a blessing." They say it is up to those who bear her memory to keep her goodness alive. They do this by remembering her, by speaking her name, and by carrying on her legacy. I love this tradition. 

The legacy grandma Dolores leaves behind is prolific. She lives on in all of her children, grand children, great grand children, nieces and nephews, and in her many many friends. 

She was many things to many people. To me, she was the perfect grandma. And in a lot of ways, a second mother. I am lucky enough to be one of her first grandkids, and I grew up in Ames. So she was part of my everyday life. 

She often picked me up from school, and she never missed a ball game or band concert. We ate dinner at grandma’s multiple days a week usually staying past bedtime - Jen always had to be carried to the car because she fell asleep.  

When I was in middle school she taught me to roll my jeans like the cool kids, while grandpa helped me with math problems. 
She was a constant support in my life. I looked to her for comfort. And she comforted me by just being. 

I’m sure she was that to many of you too. I don’t know how many times I heard her say to my dad, “Mikey, I couldn’t love you more if I had borned you myself.” And I know she loved everyone here, too.

I remember holidays with a full house and extra tables in the garage with the overflow.  There were never ending card games, and endless buckets of cookies and treats stored on the porch. 

She showed her love through food. She always made me whatever I wanted for my birthday meal. And she made my birthday cake with a her amazingly delicious cooked frosting - which I still need the recipe for, if anyone has it. 

If friends joined for dinner, they had second helpings, whether they wanted it or not. Her pancakes were thin and crispy and sprinkled with powered sugar. I don’t eat meat, but I still love the smell of bacon because ….

Grandma had a way of making you feel so special. Like no one else in the world possessed what you possessed. She loved unconditionally and was never slow to tell you how proud she was if whatever you were doing.

What will stick with me more than anything is that feeling of love and adornment that she always shared. 

I love you Grandma. 

-Austin

While Mom was not a hairdresser, she made a lot of friends and family look beautiful!  All the home perms…almost in assembly line fashion are vivid memories. I even continued that “perm thing” when I had two daughters and Mom, Grandma gave them perms at the kitchen sink…those photos of them wrapped in perm rods with Mom are precious!

Mom styled hair for neighbor Agnes routinely, and her very dear friend Mary and other friends would also regularly stop in for a cup of coffee and a new hairdo. 

I had to be sure to come down for breakfast fully dressed because you never knew how many “extras” would be at the breakfast table…including our young paperboy who was at breakfast quite frequently.  And of course one of the many friends there to get their hair styled would be sharing breakfast with us as well. 

It was Grand Central Station at our house and Mom and Dad loved it…the more the merrier!  The memories are endless and we are loving reliving these memories in our hearts and minds…she was the most wonderful Mother and friend!

This is the rest of my post to your family.  
So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.” ‭‭

Delores will be greatly missed and we pray all of you sense God's comfort and peace. She was a wonderful lady and leaves a beautiful legacy. 

God Bless each of you

Kem and Gail Allen

Dear Jeani (Mike) Lee with children Jackie and Jen, Connie (Phil) Miller with children Andy, Dan, Jane and Joe, Shari (John) Paule with children Jessica and Austin, Peggy (Doug) Wierson with children Hank and Ted, Patti Byriel, Jim (Carol) Byriel with children Brett and Kelli, and Julie (Zach) Allen with children Josiah, Acacia, Isaac, and Kiah
It's alway hard when our loved one leave this earth- especially one as special as Delores. She was a very nice lady, very welcoming to us, with a great gift of hospitality and fun. When we visited Zach and Julie, we were automatically invited over for dinner, or went out together. She was great to talk to, asked after our family and never missed the chance to say how wonderful Zach is. For the record, I agree. 
  We enjoyed playing "golf" with her and Harvey, a game new to us when we met them, and one that I've come to enjoy: a game with ever changing rules. 
   The hope we have when we're in relationship with Jesus is that we will see her again. She's whole and healthy now, reunited with her beloved Harvey and others who've gone before her and she'll be there to welcome home those who remain here for a time. This verse is of great comfort to me as I look forward to seeing my son again.
2 Corinthians 5: 1-8 NLT
For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit.

Aunt Dolores gave the warmest hugs! She made all of our family get togethers such a wonderful time! So many hugs to all of you ❤️

Love your mom. She was always cheerful and had something cooking in the kitchen. She always wanted you to sit down at the kitchen table and tell her what you were up to. I always felt welcome. Delores was warm-hearted and now she is your angel. Always present and encouraging to all! I'm sending a BIG (hug) and thinking of you all from the Black Hills!! Peace and Love.

Julie, I know the grief you feel right now, but know how many loved your mom. She was a wonderful lady. I loved both your mom and dad. My memories of our times together will never go away. God bless all of you children. Know she is with your dad and God. What a wonderful place to be. With Harvey, Gloria, Hank, Chuck, Jim, Evelyn, mom and pop. What a reunion! Love you sweetheart! Your Aunt Snooki

Mom was always laughing, engaging and full of love and life. She was the “energizer bunny” and unstoppable for the majority of her life. As her children married, moved around and had babies; Mom and Dad were always right there to help with absolutely anything and everything.  I could not have imagined such wonderful and loving and so much fun…parents that were beyond The Best!  We traveled together and enjoyed every moment with Mom and Dad.  I miss them…I love and cherish all the special memories that will never be gone, that no one can ever take away.

Dear Byriel family: I am sad for your loss of your sweet mom. She was small of stature, but she loved in a big way. I know that she leaves a hole in your family. I also know that it is very grievous when your parents are both gone. I pray daily for you all. 
I loved Dolores and having time with her. I lost my mom when I was in my 40’s and Dolores gave me a mom’s love while she was with us in Phoenix church. She was the only person in our church who could rightly call me a youngster, which she periodically did, being nearly 20 years older than me. Weekly we ate our meal at Phoenix church side-by-side and we talked. She told me where she kept her cell phone! She told me stories of life with her Harvey, raising kids, and just living life. She loved all the kids in our church and enjoyed interacting with them and watching their fun together. Dolores had a big heart and a sweet gracious spirit. I know she is missed very much by so many. 
Prayerfully, Kathy and Aaron Keller

I have had the pleasure of knowing the Byriel’s my entire life.  The Byriel’s and Young’s had so much fun when we would get together.  Dolores’ laugh was contagious and she was always so much fun to be around.  When Michelle and I lived in Scottsdale, Harvey and Dolores parked their motorhome in our driveway and stayed a week.  While we were at work, she had dinner ready every evening and to our surprise had our laundry done and folded.  We didn’t want them to leave!  
Dolores will be missed greatly.  She was a beautiful lady with a beautiful soul.  I’m sure that she and Harvey and my folks are playing cards in heaven.

Dolores was my precious sister in law. I was married to her brother, Jim Ploughman. Wonderful memories of this great lady. Will miss her. Condolences to Jeani Lee and Jim Byriel.  Go with God, Dolores.

Miss Hospitality… that’s how I will cherish the memory of Dolores.

Whenever I would visit Ames, I’d often drop by to visit with Dolores and Harvey.  The coffee pot was always on and quickly there was delicious food on the table.  We would sit and talk, eat and laugh for hours, Harvey usually listened!

Connie and I lived together in Dubuque in 1974.  We both had jobs but had fancy new cars with huge monthly payments, apartment rent and lots of debt.  When Connie would go home for a visit to Ames, it never failed that Dolores would send groceries and meat back with Connie for us to eat!  Had it not been for Dolores’s kindness, I think we may have starved to death!

She was a wonderful, kind lady and she raised 7, equally wonderful children.  Her legacy lives on in each one of you. I loved her and I’m sorry for your loss.  Tammy Stein

I was one of many to care for and love Delores! She was a bright light in my life for 4 years, I will miss her with my whole soul. My thoughts are with the family and friends of sweet, sweet Delores.

We are experiencing a few technical difficulties due to Hurricane Milton. If you have difficulty leaving a memory, please send the condolences to zjjai.allen@gmail.com

Hello Family & Friends!  We would love for you to share a memory or thought about our sweet Mom / Grandma / Great Gram - or your favorite dessert ;-)

I'll start with a few of mine...  Mom's chocolate sheet cake, Danish Pastry Puff, and Caramel Pecan Rolls.  There were seasons throughout each year when our house looked like a bakery!

Visitation

Funeral Service

Jeani Lee (Mike Lee)

Connie Miller (Phil Miller)

Shari Paule (John Paule)

Peggy Wierson (Doug Wierson)

Patti Byriel

Jim Byriel (Carol Byriel)

Julie Allen (Zach Allen)

Dolores will be deeply missed by her grandchildren Jackie, Jen, Andy, Dan, Jane, Joe, Jessica, Austin, Hank, Ted, Brett, Kelli, Josiah, Acacia, Isaac, and Kiah, 28 great-grandchildren, and so many dear friends.

OBITUARY

Dolores Byriel

June 6, 1933 – October 10, 2024

Stevens Memorial Chapel

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