Dolores Ann Pilla's Obituary
Dolores Ann (Stewart) Pilla slipped peacefully into the loving arms of her Creator on March 17, 2025, in Charlotte, NC. She was born to Mabel and Clarence Stewart in St. Paul, MN on November 28, 1934. Dolores’ beloved husband John H. Pilla preceded her in death.
Dolores’ family knew her as caring, kind, resilient, and creative. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who deeply loved God, her family, and friends. An accomplished quiltmaker, teacher, tailor, knitter, artist, and crafter, she also enjoyed Mah-Jong, football, trivia, puzzles, cats, dogs, reading, holidays, post-holiday shopping, and tea parties. Her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren cherish memories from her many warm family gatherings.
Dolores graduated from Johnson High School in the Class of ’52 in East Saint Paul, MN. Following graduation, she worked as a personal assistant at 3M until she and John wed on March 12, 1955. They were devoted partners for 60 years until John’s death in 2015.
Dolores was a lifelong learner and creative. She learned to knit and sew as a young woman and later took classes in tole painting, ceramics, French embroidery, and hand-smocking before discovering her true passion, quilting.
Quilting was the perfect medium for Dolores’ creativity. She had a gift for color – resulting in quilts that were both technical and artistic stand outs. She taught her first quilting class in her dining room in Boca Raton, FL in 1978 and continued teaching for 40 years. She co-authored the Manor House Quilt book and was the recipient of numerous quilt show awards including Best of Show at Rose Hill Manor Children’s Museum Needlework Show. Dolores never sold her meticulously crafted quilts – they were gifts she lovingly bestowed on family and friends and are treasured by all who received them. Sewn into each quilt piece by piece was her love and prayers for the recipient.
Dolores is survived by her children: Julia Nicholson Muse, John M. Pilla, Cindy Rice, Jeff (Lori) Pilla, Chris (Marta) Pilla, Nick (Melissa) Pilla, eighteen grandchildren, and fifteen great-grandchildren. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; siblings Joan Marchio and William Stewart; and nephews Donny Pilla, Tom Stewart and Richard Marchio.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am Friday, March 21, 2025, at St. Anthony Shrine Parish, 16150 St. Anthony Road, Emmitsburg, MD, 21727. The family will receive visitors at 10 AM prior to the service. Interment will follow the Mass at Mount St. Mary’s Cemetery, 16330 Grotto Road Emmitsburg, MD 21727.
In lieu of flowers, please make gifts in Dolores’s memory to your favorite charity or JRS/USA www.jrsusa.org/donate.
“They said she was the most gifted and giving woman ever known, and that she could have grown immensely rich by selling her wonderous quilts.” The Quiltmaker’s Journey
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