- Date Of Birth: May 28, 1946
- Date Of Death: December 31, 2020
- State: Connecticut
She was born in New Haven, CT to Raffaela (Savo) and Carmine Palmieri on May 28th 1946, the youngest of four beautiful sisters; Lucille Torello, Susan Ferraiolo and Marie Amendola. She was predeceased by her parents, Susan and Marie who she missed terribly and is reunited with again.
As the youngest of the sisters she was definitely the spoiled baby of the family. She was always in her older sister’s clothes, makeup and underfoot. They tolerated her with great fondness, not that they always had a choice, but simply because she was cute and they would have been in big trouble with their mom.
Dolores attended East Haven High School and soon after graduation was married. A few years later she had her daughter Michele and 3 years after had her son Robert. From an early age she was musically inclined. She played in talent shows and learned how to play guitar from her cousin, Louis Pelosi whom considered the brother she never had. She took to learning finger-picking styles quite easily and enjoyed playing folk songs and singing for her kids and friends. Eventually her love and talent for music led to her becoming a solo act in the late 70’s under the name “Brandy”. She played in all the local clubs and with her pretty face, beautiful smile, big brown eyes and a voice that soared she made hundreds of people happy. Her versions of “Blue Bayou” and “Crazy” were absolutely stunning.
As she was very young when she first married, that marriage didn’t last. However, her musical gifts led her to her husband Charlie Metcalf who was an extremely talented guitar player. They joined a band together and eventually were married in 1982. The bonus was that Charlie brought with him two golden cherubs, named Katie and Chris who then belonged to our family as our new sister and brother. Dee always wanted four children, as she was one of four and she was over the moon about these two cute kids . She loved them as her own because.. they WERE her own now. Her dream for a bigger family with more kids came true.
Dee and Charlie played in many local bands including “Southbound” and “Teaser” and enjoyed a great group of musical friendships over the years. As the years progressed, they needed a keyboard player and a drummer and Michele and Robert joined the band. It was a complete family affair however, unlike the Partridge Family we were much cooler, played Led Zeppelin tunes and never wore matching outfits. Ever. Sadly, Charlie passed away in 1994 due to complications from diabetes.
Dee struggled for several years with a hole in her heart after Charlie died. Her four kids rallied around her but it wasn’t until she met Ret. US Navy Captain Jeffrey Davidsson that the sparkle came back into her eyes. She giggled like a school girl when she showed Michele his photo for the first time. Shortly after, she moved to the rolling foothills of Virginia where Jeff was a teacher at Woodberry Forest Prep School. They were married in March of 1999. There they made many friends and enjoyed the local wineries.
Dee loved kids. She always had a house full of her kids’ friends here. From Rob’s outrageous parties, to card games and great Christmas Eve shenanigans her door was always open to ‘her kids’. They called her Mama Dee, or simply just Mom. Their kids now call her “Gramma Dee” When they had a problem they would talk to her and she would advise them and listen to them. A friend this week messaged me to say “Your mother taught me that family is NOT just blood!!!” I read that and thought – this is my mother’s legacy. She loved you all as family, because if you were in her heart, you were there to stay. You didn’t really get a say so about it either. “Though she be but little, she is fierce” and she loved with an all encompassing light.
Just when you thought Dee’s light couldn’t shine any brighter, she had grandchildren. Oh, she couldn’t possibly love anybody more than she did her grandkids. They brought her happiness beyond measure, love, laughs, kisses, grandparent sleepovers, beach trips, family picnics, years of Thomas the Trains and more. She was in the hospital room when her grandsons Chancellor and Cristien were born – what a tremendous gift that she was able to be there for that.
I would be remiss in not mentioning Dee’s considerable cooking skills. She had a personal vendetta to feed you until you couldn’t move. As a proper Italian woman, no one ever went hungry in her house. The manicotti, and cream puffs, the lasagna, and stuffed breads, the antipasto the size of a satellite dish. I would ask her.. “Who can eat ALL this food, Mom?” She was a skilled cook and again in the true Italian tradition her greatest joy was sharing her table with family and friends and what made her the happiest of all.
Besides her beloved husband, best friend and protector, Jeffrey Davidsson, Dee leaves her traditions of family and compassion to her children: Michele Walworth (Douglas), Robert Faiella (Alison), Katie Johnson (Michael), Christopher Metcalf, and Sarah Davidsson. She leaves her legacy of love and light to her grandchildren, Chancellor and Cristien Walworth, Olivia and Charlotte Johnson, Dominic, Davin and Drew Faiella and Sophia Davidsson. She also leaves behind her beloved spoiled grand dog and best furry friend in the world, Scooter Walworth. Dee was blessed with a one of a kind friendship with Brigitte Shinealt, whom she refers to as her little sister and whom has always been a godsend to her. She also leaves behind many beloved cousins who she always remained very close with and who meant everything to her.
To her sister and brother in laws, Kathy and Chuck Davis, Jimmy Metcalf and Thomas Metcalf along with her mother in law Marie Metcalf she leaves many happy family moments full of love and laughter.
To the Backus Hospital nurses who took care of Dee for the last few months we can not thank you enough for being angels on earth.
I could go on and on…. but I’m going to leave this as a typical “Savo Goodbye” where.. we never really say goodbye.. we just say “see you later” and we’ll pick right back up where we left we see you again. Your energy and spirit was too much to contain here on earth, beautiful, kindhearted, sweet lady. Fly with the angels Mom, your spirit lives on. We love you.
“Though I know I’ll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I’ll often stop and think about them
In my life, I love you more”
(The Beatles)
