Lasting Memories

Dolores Fox Ciardelli
June 5, 1946-Dec. 6, 2024
Mission Viejo, California

Resident of Mission Viejo, Dolores Fox Ciardelli died peacefully nearly 3 years after a diagnosis of breast and brain cancer. Her daughter Zoe held her hand one last time shortly before she died. She will be missed and remembered for her kindness, charm, elegance, and her motto “it’s a good life if you don’t weaken”. She loved writing, reading, travelling, her family, and staying in touch with a huge circle of friends throughout California and the world.

Dolores was born and raised in San Jose. At the age of 18, she met the love of her life, James (Jim) Ciardelli, with whom she was married for 47 years. She graduated from San Jose State University, where she earned a BA in Journalism. While Jim was in the Air Force from 1968-1972, they lived in New Mexico, Texas, and Marysville, California. From 1975-1978, they lived in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; then from 1987-92, in Bangkok, Thailand. From 1980 until Jim’s death in 2014, the family home was in Walnut Creek.

While in Bangkok, Dolores started writing for the American Women’s Club magazine Sawaddi and the Bangkok Post, as well as publishing short stories. Upon the family’s return to the United States, she became a full time journalist and editor. She worked for the Contra Costa Times from 1993-2000. In 2000, she helped Embarcadero Media launch the Pleasanton Weekly and, in 2005, was the founding editor of the Danville Weekly. She continued writing for Embarcadero Media publications until her diagnosis.

She is survived by her son Joseph Pepe Ciardelli of Berlin, Germany and grandchildren Ruby and Elliot, both 8; daughter Zoe Ryan, son-in-law Jeff Ryan and grandchildren Camille, 12, and James, 9, of Mission Viejo; sister Diane Lechner of San Jose; sister-in-law Sue Martin of Alameda; and nieces and nephews.