Dolores "Dolly" Dashem

Dolores Dashem, our loving mother, grandmother, sister and friend, affectionately known to all as "Dolly", died on Wednesday, December 29th, 2010 at her home in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Born Dolores Martha Louise Swanson on June 16th, 1928 in Jamestown, New York, to Roy L. and Ruth H. Bergquist Swanson, she was the eldest of four children. Dolly spent her childhood in Celeron, New York with her brothers Donnie, Bob and Dick.

Dolly married Robert A. Hedberg on June 21, 1947, and had one son, Dennis Wayne Hedberg. She later married William (Bill) Dashem on June 19, 1968, and gained four daughters (Barbara, Linda, Patty and Dorothy), in addition to a wonderful husband. Dolly and Bill were happily married until his death in 1979. Dolly was proud of her Swedish heritage, and was baptized in the Lutheran faith. She was also active in her husband's Episcopalian church in her later years.

She led a full and active business career managing a number of businesses with her husband Bill during her lifetime. Some of her fondest memories were the years spent residing with her family at the "Seneca Highlands" Christmas Tree Farm (aka, "The Hilltop") in Cable Hollow, Pennsylvania. Everyone was welcome and the doors were always open on the Hilltop. She truly enjoyed hosting and celebrating all of the holidays and special events with many friends and family through the years. Always the ultimate hostess, the Hilltop was full of life and activity, and rarely without company.

Dolly moved from Pennsylvania to Salt Lake in 1991, following the birth of her 3 grandsons, Matthew, Shawn and Anthony Hedberg. Dolly loved nothing more than "Grandma's Angels," and spent many happy hours caring for her grandsons. She was a devoted Grandmother, never missing any event that involved her grandsons. She was tiny in stature, but a very strong and fiercely independent woman. She had an opinion on many subjects, and enjoyed discussing politics and religion. She was a talented painter, a marvelous cook, an avid reader, a master gardener, and was always game for a quick trip to Wendover. Dolly was an active member of Eastern Star.

Dolly was preceded in death by her parents, both of her husbands, her brother Robert L. Swanson, and her step-daughter, Barb Audiss. She is survived by her loving son Wayne (Christine Pezely), brothers Donald L. (Donna) Swanson and Richard T. Swanson, step-daughters Linda (Allen) Sinclair, Patty Danyluk, and Dorothy (Mark) Dutchess, sister-in-laws Mary Walls, Beverly McMillian, and Katie Swanson, lifelong friend Joyce Byer, Godchild Janet Getz Talbott, grandchildren Valerie, Anne, Emily, Krissy, Ricki, Erick, Reid, Matthew, Shawn and Anthony. Dolly is also survived by many nieces and nephews, whom she loved dearly: Susan (Tom) Curtin, Mary Jane (Charlie) Getz, Kathleen (George) Hoffman, Julie (George) Yao, Ronnie (Suzanne) Swanson, Lance (Carla) Swanson, Marybeth Anderson, Robby Swanson, Jeffrey (Kristy) Swanson, Lynne Munson, Gary (Deb) McMillan, Art (Carrie) McMillan, and Cheryl (Stuart) Jones. And last but not least, she was loved by her "Salt Lake Family," the Pezelys, and a host of good friends. She will be greatly missed by all of us.

The family will receive friends from 3:00pm to 5:00pm on Sunday, January 2nd at Holbrook Mortuary, 3251 S 2300 E, SLC, Utah. A graveside prayer service will be held at 10:30am on Monday, January 3rd at Mount Olivet Cemetery 1342 E 500 S, SLC, Utah. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the charity of your choice. Messages and tributes for the family can be posted at: www.holbrookmortuary.com