Dolores Murlin-Gardner

It is with an extremely heavy heart that I announce the death of my beautiful mother, Dolores Murlin-Gardner. She passed away on April 9, 2025. I was lucky enough to have been with her as she took her last breath... but my heart is completely broken.

My mom was born in Steelton, PA, and she was the only daughter of George N. Murlin, Sr. and Catherine M. Suhina. She had 3 brothers, all of whom are also deceased: George N. Murlin, Jr., James J. Murlin, Sr. and Thomas E. Murlin. She is survived by her only living daughter, (me) Michelle M. Murlin (also known as "Shelley") and her son-in-law, Mark G. Preston.

She attended St. Mary's Catholic school and then graduated from Bishop McDevitt High School. She worked for the State of Pennsylvania in both the Dept. Of Transportation and then the Dept. of Revenue for a total of 18 years.

My mom resided in Steelton, PA all her life until her ailing health forced her to move near me in Henderson, NV in November of 2023. She was known to all her friends as "Dolly." She was a vivacious, and very beautiful woman. She was the woman who "turned heads" when she entered a room. She was always well-dressed, fully "jeweled," hair done, nails done, always smiling and laughing... loved to dance and sing and enjoyed life to the fullest. She loved to smoke cigarettes and go to the casino. She loved going out to dinner or going out to social functions, especially to any Croatian gatherings in the Steelton area. In her early days, she played the Prim and could dance the kolo better than anyone! She also was an INCREDIBLE cook! I always teased her that she missed her calling in life... She could cook for an army and everything she made was GREAT! People would always comment on her well-dressed beauty... she loved her fur coats and high heels, and her home had Rosenthal China, fine silver and more Princess House glassware then I've even seen in my life!

She was a single mom to me most of my life. Looking back, I have no idea how she made ends meet. My father was William J. Gardner, Jr. He was a married man and remained married to his first wife until I was in college in the early 1980's. He finally got a divorce from his first wife and then married my mother in the fall of 1982. They were married until the day he died, on January 3, 1999, my 35th birthday.

My mom was a true "feisty" spirit -- she would fight to the death for anything that she believed in. She was the strongest lady I've ever known. In recent years she developed a long list of health issues... She suffered greatly towards the end but she amazed everyone at both her nursing home and at hospice -- they'd never seen anyone fight harder than she did to survive! Unfortunately, her little body finally gave out and she passed away just 17 days before her 83rd birthday.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 AM on Thursday, April 24, 2025 in Prince of Peace- Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Roman Catholic Church, 815 S. Second St., Steelton with Rev. Arokiaraj Amalorpava, Parochial Vicar, as Celebrant. Burial will follow at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery. A Visitation will take place prior to services on Thursday from 9:30-10:30 at Wiedeman Funeral Home, 357 S Harrisburg Street in Oberlin.

In lieu of flowers, we're asking that you donate instead to the St. Lawrence Lodge in Steelton, PA. She would want everyone to have an incredible party in her honor. To say she will be missed seems like the greatest understatement. She was my everything. She gave me the most wonderful life... I am so grateful for all the sacrifices she made for me when I was a kid, and I am so grateful to have had her be my mom. We had a song, called, "You and Me Against the World" by Helen Reddy. We truly were a "team" and I am the woman I am because of her guidance and love. I am so glad she is not suffering any longer, but I miss her already. I loved her with all my heart and soul. She was extremely religious, and I know she is in heaven looking down on me right now as I type this... probably wanting to tell me to go fix my makeup or my hair! I will miss her till the day I die... but her spirit will live on through me and I thank God for giving me her as my Mother.