Obituary of Dolores H. Heim
Dolores (nee Vance) Heim, 83, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, surrounded by her loving family at her home in South Plainfield.
Born in East Newark to the late Thomas and Helen Vance, Dolores was lovingly raised by her aunt and uncle, Catherine and James Fischer, following the passing of her parents. In 1963, she and her husband settled in South Plainfield, where she made her home for more than sixty years.
For over three decades, Dolores devoted herself to caring for children, providing warmth and comfort from her own home. She was also a longtime parishioner of Sacred Heart Church in South Plainfield and an active member of the community, serving on the board of the South Plainfield Pop Warner Eagles during her children’s younger years.
Dolores had a zest for life and enjoyed traveling—whether it was to the islands or down the Jersey Shore, she treasured the experiences and memories made along the way. She also loved treating herself to shopping trips and took great pride in her nails, often delighting friends and family with her bright, fun designs.
Above all, family was the center of Dolores’ world and her number one priority. She and her beloved late husband, Tom, built a large, loving family and created countless cherished memories together; holiday celebrations at their home, summer weekends by the pool with Bob Marley and Elvis playing in the background, and special times spent down the shore. These were the moments she held closest to her heart.
Predeceased by her husband of sixty-one years, Thomas K. Heim; and siblings, Patty Gocklin, James Fischer, and Robert Fischer, she leaves behind her large, loving and dedicated family; children, Colleen Arndt (Greg), Joanne Okoszko (Lester), Sally Baker (Thomas), Susan Loiacono (Charlie), Thomas Heim Jr. and MaryEllen Harris (Devon); eighteen grandchildren, Jessica, Danielle, Jamie, Brittany, Nicholas, Kenneth, Kristin, Kyle, Karylanne, Kristopher, Lindsay, C.J., Melissa, Sydney, Meghan, Thomas III, Brianna and MaKenzie, as well as her twenty-seven great-grandchildren: Hunter, Jackson, Noah, Zachariyah, Micah, Aaliyah, Lukah, Matthew, Benjamin, Joseph, Ashley, Skyler, Riley, Connor, Paityn, Linkin, Colton, Addie, Ella, Josette, Eugene, Christos, Penny, Blake, Brooklynn, Logan, Leah, Aubree, and J.J., and two more on the way. She will also be missed by her sisters, Maggie Vance and Margaret Tomasko, as well as a host of extended relatives and friends.
A visitation will be held at the South Plainfield Funeral Home, 2456 Plainfield Avenue, South Plainfield, NJ 07080 on Monday, September 29, 2025 from 2 PM – 4 PM and 7 PM – 9 PM.
A funeral mass will be celebrated at Sacred Heart RC Church, 149 South Plainfield Avenue, South Plainfield, NJ, on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, at 10 am. Family and friends are invited to gather at the funeral home prior to mass, beginning at 9 AM.
Following mass, burial will take place at Hillside Cemetery, 1401 Woodland Avenue, Scotch Plains, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, the Heim family has requested that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or The Alzheimer’s Association in Dolores’s name.
To send condolences to the Heim family, please visit his interactive web page at www.SouthPlainfieldFuneralHome.com.