Delores Rica

Delores Marie Rica
January 26, 1933 – December 22, 2025

Delores Marie Rica, beloved mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully on December 22, 2025, surrounded by love. Born on January 26, 1933, in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Delores lived a life full of grace, laughter, and devotion to her family.

On September 14, 1952, she married the love of her life, Joseph “Zorro” Rica. Together, they built a beautiful family and shared countless cherished memories. Delores and Joseph were blessed with two sons, Joseph and Gary, who, along with her husband, preceded her in death. She will now be laid to rest beside them, reunited in eternal peace.

Delores’s greatest joy was her family. She was the proud grandmother of Joseph Rica Sr. and his wife Kristy. They blessed her with two great-grandsons, Joseph Jr. and Garrett. Joseph Jr. and his wife Langlie brought even more joy with two beautiful children, Rowan and Presley, Delores’s great-great-grandchildren. Joseph Jr. and Garrett lovingly called her “Jersey Granny,” alongside “Jersey Pop.”

She is survived by her loving sister, Gail Bradley, and brother-in-law Jerry, as well as her dear cousin Roseann “Trumpets,” and many cherished cousins, nieces, and nephews who will forever hold her memory close.

Delores dedicated many years of her career to National State Bank, where her professionalism and kindness touched many lives. Outside of work, she embraced life’s pleasures—finer dining, traveling, gambling, shopping—and was known for her impeccable taste and warm hospitality. A fabulous cook, her homemade pizza and apple pie were legendary and will be fondly remembered by all who were lucky enough to enjoy them.

Delores’s legacy is one of love, strength, and elegance. She will be deeply missed but forever remembered in the hearts of those who knew her.

Funeral Services
A viewing & prayer service will be held on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM, followed by a service at 10am Higgins and Bonner Echo Lake Funeral Home, Westfield, NJ. Delores will be laid to rest beside her beloved husband and sons.