BELFAST — Delores (Surek) Merry, 91, of Belfast peacefully went home to be with Jesus on Feb. 19, 2023. She was born to Peter and Lillian (Reynolds) Surek in Rockland on April 18, 1931.
While the later part of her childhood wasn’t ideal, at 17 Delores met and married the love of her life, Elwood Merry. Over the next 40 years they raised their seven children and filled their home with love and laughter, until, sadly, Elwood passed away in 1988.
Delores loved life. Whether she was singing in church, shopping with her daughters, taking trips to Kentucky to the National Quartet Convention with her friends, or their weekly game nights, Delores delighted in it all.
As she faced the loss of three of her children over the last two years, Delores became homesick for her Eternal Home in Heaven. Although she maintained her smile and persevered, her desire to meet her Savior and be reunited with her husband and children became greater than her desire to stay, and Jesus lovingly welcomed her home.
Delores was predeceased by her husband Elwood Merry, son Elwood (Leslie) Merry, daughter Rebecca and her husband Alan Merithew, and daughter Sonja Ward.
Delores is survived by her son Dennis Merry and his wife Tina of Swanville, son Timothy Merry and his wife Pamela of Swanville, daughter Melody Holmes of Belfast, daughter Kristi and her husband Alva Philbrook of Belfast, daughter-in-law Wendy Merry of Swanville, and son-in-law Preston Ward of Swanville. She was very proud of her 17 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and seven great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother Peter Surek and his wife Sonja of Thomaston, her sister-in-law Faustina Merry of Belfast, and a very dear friend, Emily Flagg of Belfast.
A funeral will be held on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, at 11 a.m. at Brooks Pentecostal Church, 178 Monroe Highway, Brooks. Interment will be held at Smart Cemetery in the spring.
Arrangements are under the care of Riposta Funeral Home, Belfast. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at ripostafh.com.
