Dolores June Millard

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BYRON – Dolores June Millard, a long time Byron resident, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, church & community volunteer died of natural causes on Friday, June 12, 2020 one day after her 92nd birthday in the Alden Park Strathmore nursing care facility.

Born in Zanesville, Ohio, on June 11, 1928 to Marion Madeline Dubicki and Arlington Joseph Desonia, she grew up with her mother, her loving step-father, John W. Gegoski, and her beloved sister Barbara Jean Gegoski (Getzelman) in rural Grand Rapids, Mich. As a teen, she moved in with her Aunt and Uncle (Bernard and Vi Rusilowski) to join the workforce. A few years later, she moved in with her Grandmother, Loie (Champlin) Holtz, in Belvidere, where she would eventually meet and marry her husband of 63 years, Ronald E. Millard on Oct. 28, 1950. They had three children, Ronald Edward, Jr (deceased), Candace Ann (Quinn), and Christopher Ronald. 

The family moved to Byron in 1963 where Ron ran the SuperValue grocery store. She remained in Byron until 2016 when her health began to fail and she required assisted living accommodations. 

Dolores was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Byron, active in its Ladies Guild/Auxiliary, serving as its president and bazaar chair on many occasions. She sang in the choir and volunteered frequently. She was named the Diocesan Woman of the Year in 2012 by the Rockford Diocese for her many contributions.  In the community, she was active in the Byron Senior groups, the Byron library, Byron Fire Association Auxiliary and worked in the many family businesses over the years including The What Not Shoppe (Byron, circa 1970), E & R Men’s Wear (Byron and Oregon), and the Crock Pot (Oregon, circa 1980).

Dolores was committed to her family, her church and her community and took great pride in all three.

She is survived by her children, Candace Ann Quinn (Michael) of Loves Park; Christopher R. Millard (LouAnn) of Byron; and her rotary son, Paulo (Marcea) Marinho, Brazil; Her beloved nephews, Gregory A. Getzelman of Roscoe,  James A. Getzelman (Christie) of Byron, Samuel Guell of Hot Springs, Ark.; Her nieces Cindy (Guell) Walters (John) of Percy, Ark., Charlene (Guell) Hollingsworth of Ft. Worth, Texas; Her grandchildren Dr. Brant (Melinda) Hulsebus, DC of Rockford, Cory (Aaron) Park of Loves Park, Gabriel (Katherine) Millard of Geneva, Noah (Emily) Millard of Rochelle, and Emily (Josh) Gerdes of Byron; Her great nieces  Jeanine (Jon) Kaplan of Rockford, Lauren Getzelman of Milwaukee, and Mallorie Getzelman of Byron; Her great-nephews Matthew Getzelman of Champaign, and Nathan Getzelman of Aurora; as well as 19 great grandchildren and great grand nieces and nephews who also called her Grandma. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband of 63 years, Ronald, her infant son, Ronald Jr., her sisters Barbara Getzelman, Patricia (Marvin) Leopold, Loie Arlene (Robert) Redner, Betty Jean (Paul) Austin, and her brothers Arlington Joseph DeSonia, James DeSonia, Danny DeSonia; Her nephew Edward J. Getzelman and nieces Devonne (Greg) Getzelman and Kathy Guell (Garrett) Pride.

 In accordance with covid-19 restrictions, at the convenience of the church and the family, she will be laid to rest in a private graveside service at St. Mary’s cemetery in Byron. The family hopes to celebrate her life publicly later this fall following the relief of gathering restrictions and hold a Catholic funeral mass at St. Mary’s Church, Byron.

The family wishes to thank the caring staffs at Crimson Point in Rockford, Heritage Woods in Belvidere, and Alden Park Strathmore in Rockford, all of whom lovingly cared for her over the past four years. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the St. Vincent De Paul Society in Byron in her name.