Dolores Oles

POLAND — Dolores “Mitzi” Sinistro Oles, 91, sister and aunt, retired teacher and resident of the Southwestern Run neighborhood in Poland, died Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, at St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital of complications from congestive heart failure.

Born May 23, 1933, she was the daughter of Michael and Genevieve Pilla Sinistro, and grew up in the Smokey Hollow neighborhood in Youngstown. She attended The Rayen School and worked at Youngstown Printing Company before attending Youngstown State University to earn a bachelor’s degree in education. She taught for 29 years, most at St. Joseph the Provider School in Campbell. It was a joy for her to cross paths with her former students over the years, and many working in the medical field brought her comfort during her recent illness.

She married Ben Oles in 1968. He was also a teacher and they made a life in Campbell until their retirement and move to Poland. He preceded her in death in 2006.

She leaves to cherish memories of her, her sister, Joan Sinistro Jones, and brother-in-law, Wendell Jones of Youngstown; sister-in-law, Pearl Berezo Sinistro of Boardman; and her nieces and nephews, Patricia Thomas Papadopoulos and Paul Robertson of Struthers, Joan LaGuardia of Fort Myers, Florida, William LaGuardia and JoAnn Listorti LaGuardia of Poland, Laura LaGuardia of Youngstown, Ralph Sinistro and Beth Conyers Sinistro of Kent, Celeste Sinistro of Boardman, Melinda Sinistro Rulli and Mark Rulli of Canfield, Melissa Sinistro and George Paree of Columbus, Candy Sinistro LaRocca and Mario LaRocca of Boardman, Kimberly Jones Rasmussen and John Rasmussen of Canfield, Jennifer Jones Kosec and Gregg Kosec of Canfield, and Elizabeth Jones Zarbaugh and Chuck Zarbaugh of Youngstown.

She was preceded in death by her sister and brother-in-law, Phyllis Sinistro LaGuardia and William LaGuardia; and brother, Ralph Sinistro; and her aunt whom she loved as a sister, Mary Pilla Thomas.

She adored her nieces and nephews and their families and was blessed to know many lifelong friends. She was a member of the Bagnolese Women’s Club, Friends of the Library, Mahoning Valley Historical Society, her beloved “Lunch Bunch” and various educator organizations.

Family and friends may call 9 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, at the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Homes, Poland Chapel. Prayers will begin at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at Holy Family Church. 

The family extends thanks to the dedicated medical staff at St. Elizabeth Youngstown and Boardman hospitals, and Caprice Rehab Center in Boardman.

In lieu of flowers, she requested donations to the St. Vincent de Paul Society and veterans organizations.