Delores Irene Strauss

Delores Irene Strauss, loving mother and grandmother, died Thursday, December 17, 2020, at the age of 88 with her loving family at her side. Delores was born on September 22, 1932, in Weirton, WV, the youngest of three children born to Joseph and Josephine Powell Gruda. Delores was a lifelong resident of Weirton. Before her marriage, she was an employee of the Tin Mill of Weirton Steel. For most of her life, she was a homemaker and loving mother to her two daughters. As a young mother of two, Delores acquired multiple sclerosis and myelodysplastic syndrome which left her with paralysis. These diseases did not conquer her. She was there for her family every step of the way. She sewed all of their clothes and supported them in their endeavors from birth through adulthood. Delores nourished her faith at Saint Paul’s Roman Catholic Church, where she taught CCD. Over the years, she guided hundreds of second graders to their first right of holy communion. The Strauss family made their home on Wylie Ridge Road where Delores was actively involved in the community. She was instrumental in attaining guard rails on Swearengen Hill. Delores and her husband Eugene celebrated a marriage of 57 years, and were able to enjoy their retirement years by touring the continent in their airstream. In her recent years, Delores was a resident of the Weirton Geriatric Center, where she was loved by all of her caregivers. Not only did they admire all of her artwork, they enjoyed her attitude as she adorned her tiara and called herself the “Princass.” Most of all Delores will be remembered for the love she had for her family and the love they had for her. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Eugene Joseph Strauss, brother, Joseph Gruda, Jr., and her sister, Rose Marie Waltz. She will be remembered with love and admiration by her daughters, Valerie (Ivey) Cook of Charlotte, N.C., and Michelle Bartlett of Oak Hill, WV; her grandchildren, Justin (Kylie) Cook, Christopher (Chelsea) Cook, Chelsea (Justin) Glacken, and Hannah Bartlett; and her great grandson, Josiah Cook. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1 PM Tuesday at Saint Paul’s Roman Catholic Church, Weirton. A one-hour viewing will be held at Greco-Hertnick Funeral Home prior to the service. Entombment will follow at Saint Paul Cemetery, Weirton. Share tributes at www.grecohertnick.com 304 748 3219