DELORES A. CARHART

VISITATION: FRIDAY: OCTOBER 25, 2024 10AM TO 11AM ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE CHURCH 5635 BERKSHIRE VALLEY ROAD OAK RIDGE, NJ 07438 973-208-0090 FUNERAL MASS: FRIDAY: OCTOBER 25, 2024 11AM ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE CHURCH 5635 BERKSHIRE VALLEY ROAD OAK RIDGE, NJ 07438 973-208-0090 INTERMENT: FRIDAY: OCTOBER 25, 2024 FOLLOWING FUNERAL MASS ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE CEMETERY ADJACENT TO THE CHURCH Delores Ann Carhart November 20, 1944 - October 18, 2024 Delores was born on November 20, 1944 in Mt Holly, NJ and she was one of twelve children. She lived at home until she was 13 years old. For the next 32 years of her life, Delores resided in various developmental centers in New Jersey. In February 1989, she moved to Finnegan House in Jefferson Township where she found herself a family to love and a forever home with the Department for Persons with Disabilities (DPD). Delores was the “mother hen” of Finnegan House. She would always check on her peers and would worry about them if they were sick, sad or hurt. Delores was a very happy, loving person who cared about everyone who was close to her. Delores would always ask staff about how their family was doing and loved to hear about how their children were doing especially the people with small children. If staff did not have children, Delores liked to hear about their pets that they may have and would ask for picture of them. Delores love all animals but especially cats. She even had an outdoor cat named Carmel that she would feed every morning and afternoon each day. He was an orange and white tabby and it gave her great pride to be able to care for an animal on her own. Delores had many cat pictures, stuffed animals and knick-knacks of cats in her bedroom. Another thing that Delores took pride in doing was baking something once a month and bringing it to a local day care in town. The children all know her as the “Cookie Lady”. She loved being around the children and seeing their happy faces. They would always light up when she arrived and she look forward to going there each month. At the DPD’s Murray House Dinner Dance in 2003, Delores was very surprised to get an award for outstanding accomplishments. She received this award because she stopped smoking, lost weight and started taking much more interest in how she looked and felt. She was very proud of this award and would show it off to everyone she knew. Delores was chosen to be a member of DPD’s Board of Trustees on January 13, 2015. Delores was very proud to represent everyone and give her input. Before each meeting, Delores would tell staff before she left that they worked too hard and she would ask the board to pay them more money. At the end of each meeting she would always ask, “When is the next meeting?” eager to fulfill her duty. Delores also had an article written about her in Apostrophe Magazine, Summer 2015 issue, “From an Institution to a Caring Home”. Delores was very proud of this article and had a plaque of it hanging outside her bedroom, which she showed everyone who came to visit. In June of 2022, Delores moved to Troy Hills Center. She loved every time that people from Finnegan House or from her Gruenert Center day program would come visit her. Her face would light up with a huge smile when they came to see her. Delores was well taken care of at Troy Hills and everyone we talked to said that Delores had a very special place in their hearts and she was one of their favorite people. Delores will be greatly missed by all who knew her. She made an impact on many people in her life and she will forever live in our hearts. Rest in peace Delores.