Dolores (Dee) Marie Colgary, lovingly known for her warmth, faith, and devotion to family, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune, NJ. She was 96 years old.

Born on May 15, 1929, in Newark, NJ, Dee was the daughter of the late Elmer and Gertrude (Cruse) Schefter. She spent most of her life in Woodbridge, a place that remained close to her heart, before later residing in Toms River and Tinton Falls.

Dee was a woman of deep faith and quiet generosity. A longtime communicant of St. James Roman Catholic Church in Woodbridge, she dedicated many years to the Altar Rosary Society and shared her love of music as a member of the church choir. Her faith guided her life and was evident in the kindness and compassion she showed to everyone she met.

She took great joy in staying active and social, especially during her years in Holiday City, where she could often be found enjoying bocce ball, shuffleboard, and line dancing—always appreciating laughter, friendship, and good company.

Dee was a hardworking and dedicated employee throughout her life, serving as a teacher's aide at Mawby Street School No. 1 in Woodbridge, later as a key punch operator at Woodbridge High School, and eventually as a data entry clerk with Elizabethtown Gas Company. No matter the role, she approached her work with pride and reliability.

Above all else, Dee was devoted to her family. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who treasured time spent with those she loved. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her beloved husband, Grant Louis Colgary , who passed away in 1996. Their enduring love remained a cornerstone of her life.

She is survived by her children, Grant Colgary and his wife Florence, Patricia Walsh and her husband Lawrence, and James Colgary and his wife Laura; her grandchildren, Shannon Velazquez and her husband Dan, Maura Belt and her husband James, James Colgary Jr. and his wife Katie, and William Walsh and his wife Amanda; and her treasured great-grandchildren, Alianna Belt, Nolan Belt, Lincoln Colgary, Owen Walsh, and Abigail Walsh, each of whom brought her immense pride and joy.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Friday, January 16, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at St. James Roman Catholic Church, Woodbridge, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Tunnels to Towers , honoring Dee's memory and her lifelong spirit of compassion and service.