Delores J. Hertzing

On Sunday, May 7th of 2023, loving wife, mother, “Mom” to many, Grannie, and faithful friend, Delores Joan Hertzing, passed away peacefully having reached the age of 83, at Lake Pointe Nursing Home in El Dorado, Kansas, under the care of Good Shepherd Hospice of Wichita, Kansas.

Delores was born on the 26th of February 1940 in Washington, DC to proud parents George and Elizabeth (Bauer) McDonald. On the 31st of December, 1979, she married Albert M. Hertzing in Waynesville, Missouri, where she spent her life as a homemaker, neighborhood babysitter, and a tried and true friend to everyone she met. Together they shared three daughters, Judy, Elizabeth, and Susan.

Delores had a love for tending to her flower garden, especially her pink and red rose bushes; which, received a surprise “trim” each year by her husband with the lawn mower. His announcement of having done her this “favor” was met with much yelling and sprinkled with “French” words as her husband would soon be seen running out the front door, wearing his funny blue fishing hat, laughing all the way to the yard. She was also a devoted fan to her soap operas, ordering Domino’s Pizza with post-dated checks for all of her “kids”, watching WrestleMania while cursing, yelling, and cheering on Hulk Hogan, The Ultimate Warrior, and The Undertaker – All while sippin’ her Pepsi. In fact, she loved her Pepsi SO much that during her final weeks she refused all food and fluids, except for her Pepsi, . . . No ice, in a can, with a straw, right up to her final day. She was well known for her scrutinous money management skills. She had a hoard of ledgers, notebooks, and file cabinets to keep track of babysitting money, loans to and from friends, and receipts for furniture paid off in the 80s, just in case she were ever doubted and questioned. It was her innate ability to manage money, even while under nursing home care, that all of her final expenses were taken care of; without a burial policy, just so that her children would not have to worry when the time came. (Of course she could’ve told her daughter, Elizabeth about this in advance, but why ruin that beautiful surprise preceded by much angst?) She didn't use names when addressing people, you were either Honey, Baby, or Sweetie; and all of the children who came into her home affectionately called her “Mom”. Surely there isn’t a soul alive who could ever forget her infectious laugh, paired with her kind, sparkling, blue eyes. She had a different way about her, without a doubt, and will be remembered so very fondly for always putting the needs of others above her own by helping in any way that she could.

Delores was preceded in death by her father, George, and her mother, Elizabeth, as well as her husband, Albert M. Hertzing, and their daughter Judy Saint Burnedette. She is survived by her daughters, Elizabeth and Susan, her ride-or-die “adopted” daughter, Kristie Powell, and her grandchildren Devyn, Nathaniel, Malikai, and Mikal.

Services for Delores will be held on Thursday, May 11th, 2023 at Carlson Colonial Funeral Home, 200 South Star Street in El Dorado, Kansas. Her viewing will be from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., with her funeral service following immediately afterward at 1:00 p.m. before being laid to rest at Sunset Lawns Cemetery in El Dorado, Kansas, alongside her husband, Albert “Mike”. The family asks that those who plan to attend her services wear a smile and the color blue, as it was her favorite color.

Special thanks: To LakePoint of El Dorado for always making sure Delores felt like family to all of the nurses, administrators, and staff; To Good Shepherd Hospice Care of Wichita for providing such wonderfully thoughtful, caring, end-of-life care; having had your services, provided her with a comfortable, peaceful, and beautiful end to her journey which allowed the family to say our goodbyes with peace in our hearts and a grateful smile. And last, but certainly not least, special thanks to Kristie Powell of Indianapolis, Indiana for always showing up when it counts, and for being the best “adopted” daughter/sister to Elizabeth that she could’ve ever asked for.

She Is Gone
“You can shed tears that she is gone
Or you can smile because she has lived
You can close your eyes and pray that she will come back
Or you can open your eyes and see all that she has left
Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her
Or you can be full of the love that you shared”
-David Harkins

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