Dolores Irene Paddock Houck took her last breath on January 28, 2026, at the Hospice Fisher Home in Amherst with family members by her side. Dolores was born on August 21,1929 in Northampton to Stanley W. Paddock and Louise Zielinsksi Paddock. She attended Northampton schools and graduated from Northampton High School where she was a high school cheerleader. Along with seven longtime friends (Ann, Pat, Louise, Ginger, Gloria, Rosie and Joan), Dolores was part of a close-knit group affectionately known as the “Florence Girls”. In her professional life Dolores held various secretarial positions and worked part time as a “lunch lady” at Hawley Jr. High School. Later in life she worked part time at the People’s Institute Day Care Center helping out with the little ones who she greatly enjoyed, and by all accounts they loved her too. In her free time Dolores loved laying out in the sun, swimming at her sister’s pool, knitting and playing the piano but what truly brought her the most joy was her love of animals, specifically cats and dogs. As a devout Catholic, she was a member of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Florence. Dolores was predeceased by her loving husband and best friend of 70 years, George F. Houck, Jr. as well as her older sister Wanda Archambeault. Dolores leaves behind three daughters and one son; Linda Rainville and husband Gerald, their 3 sons Robert, Michael & Christopher, Chris’s wife Emma Rose (Kiefer), their twins August & Dorothy (Dolores’s great-grandchildren), Geraldine ”Geri” Walker, Timothy Molaghan (deceased), their 3 sons Brendan, Ryan, Ryan’s wife Elora (Weaver) & Devin, Lisa Leary and partner Rick Gerstein, George “Bud ”Houck III and wife Heather (Gormely) & their sons Ryan & Alex. Special thanks to Linda Manor Memory Care for all their quality attention and support of mom during her stay there and Hospice Fisher Home for providing a peaceful environment and the best possible care at the end of her life. 

At Dolores request, all services are private with burial in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Northampton. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Hospice Fisher Home, 1165 N Pleasant St, Amherst MA 01002