Dolores M. (Grenchik) Smolen

Dolores M. (Grenchik) Smolen, age 98, passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 25, 2026, surrounded by her six sons. She was the beloved wife of the late Harry A. Smolen; loving mother of Lee J. (Jeong Ran), Larry (Suzanne), Chris (Carolyn), David (Amy), Harry J. (Chandra), and Ron (Tami); cherished grandmother of Nicholas, Natasha (fiancé Ignacio Rodriguez), Anastasia (TJ), Valerie, Rachel (Michael), Andrew, Eva Dolores, Matthew, Hannah, Henri Jerome, Cassie, and Mitchell; and adoring great-grandmother (GiGi) of Theodore, Nani, Kathleen, and Griffin. Dolores was a loving grandmother and great-grandmother figure to Yousun Lee (Kyubyung Kang) and their sons Auggie and Sammie. She was the sister of the late Raymond (late Jeanne) Grenchik, the late Joseph (late Patricia) Grenchik, the late Norbert (late Ann) Grenchik, the late Thomas (Josephine) Grenchik, the late Philip (late Carol) Grenchik, and Therese “Terry” (late Lee Goodin) Grenchik. Aunt Dolores (Aunt Dee) was also beloved by numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Theresa (Kovacik) Grenchik, daughter-in-law Kathleen (Larry) Smolen, and sister-in-law Evelyn (late Walter) Zdanky.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, July 10, 2026, at Our Lady of Grace Church, 3025 Highway Ave., Highland, IN, with Rev. Charles Niblick and Rev. Dominic Bertino concelebrating. Viewing will take place at the church from 9:45a.m. until the time of Mass. Entombment will be at Calumet Park Cemetery, Merrillville, IN. Friends and relatives may meet with the family at the Hillside Funeral Home, 8941 Kleinman Road, Highland, IN on Thursday, July 9, 2026, from 3:00-8:00 p.m. A time of remembrance will be held at 7:00 p.m. with a prayer service following. 

Dolores was born in Whiting, IN. She graduated from Sacred Heart Academy (Lisle, IL) in 1946 and the College of St. Francis (Joliet, IL) with a degree in music performance (piano) in 1950. She married Harry Smolen of Whiting, IN on December 28, 1954. Harry and Dolores lived for several years in Whiting, IN and the Woodmar neighborhood of Hammond, IN. In 1962 they built a home in Highland, IN, where they raised their six sons and remained for 46 years. Dolores obtained a master’s degree in music education from the Chicago Conservatory in 1963, performing her solo piano recital at Chicago’s Orchestra Hall while pregnant with her third child. In 2008 Harry and Dolores downsized to a condominium in Munster, IN where she lived for the remainder of her life. 

Professionally, Dolores taught in Whiting, IN elementary schools before leaving to start a family. In 1964 she established, with husband Harry, the H.A. Smolen Company (HASCO) manufacturers' representative agency in Highland, IN. Dolores returned to teaching music at Our Lady of Grace Catholic School in Highland in the 1970s and remained there until 1987. She then began a 30-year career as office manager for HASCO, working with husband Harry and sons Chris and Ron until her full retirement at age 92 in 2020.  

Dolores was a tireless volunteer, giving unselfishly of her time to her church, her community, and a multitude of charitable organizations. It would be difficult to provide a listing of all her recognized and unrecognized volunteer activities. Her dedication to others was recognized in 1976, when she was named the Lake County Woman of the Year for her volunteer activities by the United Way. Dolores introduced her sons to the concept of an “all-nighter” as she juggled family, professional, and volunteer commitments. She was a passionate participant in her Catholic faith and continued to serve as a Eucharistic Minister until her early 90s, delivering Holy Communion to and visiting with the housebound of Our Lady of Grace parish.

Dolores was always ready for adventure, especially when it involved music, travel, and most importantly family. She kept an open mind and was constantly learning. She was very reluctant to criticize or judge, maintaining a positive attitude, grateful for the blessings in her life. She refused to sit around and complain, choosing instead to be constantly on the go. May she now rest in peace.

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