Dolores Downey Simanaitis, 86, left us on Thursday, September 12, 2024, after a heroic battle against cancer. She was ushered into heaven with a smile on her face and with her two children and her husband of 63 years by her side.

Born on January 4, 1938, "Cissy," as she was known by her family and friends, lived a long and enviable life. She will be remembered for her warmth and wisdom, her Philly accent, her love of angels, books, fashion, travel, and her belief that positive thinking is a superpower. She loved her friends like family.

Cissy was the second of three girls, Dorothea, Dolores, and Joan, born to Julia Elizabeth Pohransky and Francis John Downey in Norristown, Pennsylvania.

She graduated in 1955 from St. Matthew's Catholic high school in Conshohocken, PA. She worked for the Internal Revenue Service and later for the Social Security Administration.

On July 4th, 1959, Cissy went to Ocean City, New Jersey with friends. It was a weekend that would change the trajectory of her life when she met Dan Simanaitis. Ahead of her time even back then, Cissy asked Dan if he "knew how to jitterbug." The rest is history. They married November 24th, 1962, at the U.S. Naval Chapel in Washington, DC. They welcomed daughter Susan in 1965 and son Daniel in 1966.

After leaving the military, Dan took a job at Amoco, and the couple's amazing adventure began. They moved to Chicago, IL, King of Prussia, PA, Anaheim, CA, Stamford, CT, Geneva, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Naperville, IL, and finally to their current home of 26 years, their beloved sanctuary in Isle of Palms, SC.

Cissy and Dan traveled extensively through Europe, Asia, Russia, and the South Pacific, but Cissy's favorite trip would be her last. She traveled to Wisconsin in July to see her grandson, Matthew, receive his first white coat to mark his start in medical school.

Cissy is survived by her husband of 63 years, Dan; her daughter, Susan; her son-in-law, David Marcou; her grandson, Matthew Marcou; son, Daniel; and daughter-in-law, Susan.

Please join the family for a funeral mass on Friday, September 27, at 10 am at Stella Maris Catholic Church, 1204 Middle St., Sullivan's Island, SC.

A luncheon will follow beginning at 11:30 am at the Links Club House at the Links Golf Course in Wild Dunes, 10001 Back Bay Drive.