Obituary of Dolores B. Lawrence

Dolores Bueza Lawrence, born March 24, 1923 in Manila, Philippines to Vicente and Tomasa Bueza, passed away peacefully at home with her family by her side, on Sunday February 12, 2017 in Houston, Texas. She was preceded in death by both her husband, Cecil Lawrence, and their adult children, Janie Dolmage, and Rocky Lawrence, as well as her eight brothers and sisters. She is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth Hansen; granddaughters, Kelly Hansen, Brittany and Ashley Lawrence; grandson, Patrick Hansen and his wife Kelly, and great-grandchildren; Douglas, Kennedy, and Presley. She also leaves many nieces and nephews in the Philippines and throughout the United States. Dolores began her education in Manila, but, at the outbreak of the hostilities marking World War II, she was forced to flee with her family to safety back in the countryside. During this difficult time, Dolores honed her survival skills, along with a deep sense of resilience. She never forgot some of the cruelty she witnessed and reaching out to help others in need became one of the hallmarks of her personality. As a neighbor observed upon hearing of her death, “Dolores was always so giving and helpful to all of us”. While working as a secretary to a U.S. Army commander in Manila, she met and married her future husband, Cecil Lawrence in May, 1947. After the birth of their first child, Elizabeth, she and Cecil returned to the United States via San Antonio, where daughter Janie was born. Eventually they settled in the Oak Forest area of Houston, where they welcomed their third child, son Rocky. Oak Forest became their home for the rest of their lives, and, even as Dolores devoted herself to raising their three children, she also worked alongside Cecil in many facets of the book industry, including owning and operating Oaks Book Store, which was located on W. 43rd St. Their work ethic as a couple was impeccable, but Dolores and Cecil both found pleasure and solace in fishing on Houston’s lakes. With a cooler full of sandwiches and a day stretching out before her, Dolores was never happier than when out on the lake, fishing pole in her hands. Family was at the heart of Cecil and Dolores’s lives, and even as she corresponded faithfully with her brothers and sisters, sending money, clothing, medical supplies and food to her beloved family in the Philippines, Dolores was always a strong presence in the lives of her grandchildren and their children. Her strength helped see her extended family through the premature deaths of her husband and two of her children. She was always planning, saving and had a vision for their futures and fervently wished them to succeed and prosper in their lives. Her own tastes were simple and uncomplicated: gardening, cooking, being outside in the fresh air, playing with her dogs, and staying ahead of the weeds that grew in her yard gave her great pleasure. She could take a dead, brown patch of earth and coax it back to life with careful planting and nurturing, seeing the possibilities where others did not. Her competitive streak was evident in the games she played with her family, she loved to play Dominoes and enjoyed a mean game of 42. She was also an accomplished seamstress, and produced a number of quilts now treasured by her family. Dolores was an active member of the local AARP Chapter #1265 and also volunteered at the food pantry at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church. In her later years, coffee, breakfast, and the crossword puzzle with Liz and Kelly began each day, and weekend breakfasts at Nanny's remained a long-standing family tradition. She was very smart, and her wit and sense of humor kept all of us smiling until the very end. She leaves behind a family grateful for her attention, strength and unmatched devotion. She was truly one of a kind and will be greatly missed. A Rosary will be said for Dolores at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 16th followed by a 10:30 funeral service. Both will take place at Joseph J. Earthman Generations, 234 Westcott St. in Houston. Rite of Committal will take place at 10:00 a.m., Friday February 17th at Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive in Houston.