Doris Ann DeFalco

Doris Ann (Derenzo) DeFalco passed away on July 27, 2025 at age 83 after a long illness. Her husband of 51 years, Anthony DeFalco, passed away in 2021. She is survived by her three children, Julie Rowe (Clifton) of Sharon, MA, Andrew DeFalco, of Philadelphia, and Lauren Pennington (Nicholas),of Villanova, PA. She loved her seven grandchildren, Georgianna Rowe (17), Beatrix Rowe (15), Violet Rowe (13), David DeFalco (18), Caroline DeFalco (17), McKinley Pennington (14) and Tucker Pennington (12).  Doris is also predeceased by her beloved dogs, Sandy and Bonnie. 

Doris was born to Dr. Aurelio George and Flora Derenzo on August 12, 1941 and grew up at 1827 South Broad Street with her sister Helen and brother George. She attended Notre Dame Academy in its former location on Rittenhouse Square through high school. She is a 1963 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, where she also received her Master of Science in Education in 1968. Doris was a proud member of the Alumnae Association for many years. During her time at the University of Pennsylvania, Doris was a Kappa Delta and served as the President of her chapter during her senior year. 

Doris met Anthony at a Kentucky Derby party in Rittenhouse Square in 1969. Anthony told the story that he had been preparing to leave the party when he spotted a stunning redhead among the party-goers. He decided to stay, and the rest was history. 

Maintaining relationships was important to Doris. She spoke to her sister Helen every night, often each falling asleep on a different end of the phone line. One friend wrote, “I loved your Mom from the time we were in first grade. She was remarkable.” Another former classmate reminisced, “How I remember her smiling face in high school and her gorgeous red hair— and her sister’s!” Doris loved to gather people together and throughout her life, joined her “crowd” every New Year’s Eve, enjoyed social events at Overbrook Golf Club and hosted parties and get-togethers at her home in Radnor, PA to welcome friends from near and far. Doris treasured and nurtured friendships that lasted decades and continued into her final years.

Doris prized education and that emphasis was shared throughout her family and passed on to her children. “She and I went head-to-head in Latin I class…I wish I had followed her lead in high school — she was such a serious student and never conceited regarding her intellect. No one in that class was kinder toward others. A lovely person her entire life,” wrote another friend. Doris’s children benefited from her emphasis on education, even if they did not appreciate it at the time! 

She was a natural teacher and pursued her interest in education professionally. She taught English to seventh and ninth graders at Camden Public Schools as well as at Edwin H. Vare Junior High School in West Philadelphia. For decades afterward, Doris loved hanging the Christmas ornaments gifted to her from former students and reminiscing about each student. She often said she had cried “a bucket of tears” the day she stopped teaching. 

After she left the workforce to raise her children, she was a fixture at Wayne Elementary, Radnor Middle School, and Radnor High School as PTA president, Booster Club Chairwoman, Art Goes to School volunteer, college representative host, and myriad other jobs. Her children grew tired of hearing, “I saw your mom at school today” from friends. When she re-entered the workforce in the mid-1990s, she mentored first generation college students at the former Harcum Junior College and Cabrini College. Some of these young adults also stayed in touch for years after working with her.

Anyone who ever knew Doris knew of her great love of the Jersey Shore. She spent entire summers on North Yarmouth Avenue at her parents’ home in Longport, NJ. She brought her own family there throughout the 1980s. It was there that Doris was happiest and most relaxed. 

“I met Doris and your Aunt Helen on the beach in Longport when I was 9 years old. We became instant friends…We would go to the beach, watch [American] Bandstand in the afternoons, see friends in the early evening at Coozies, and had pajama parties,” reminisced one lifelong friend. “Over the years we have talked about our wonderful summers in Longport together. It was a blessing that our husbands joined us in our friendship, making it a delight to keep the closeness together all of these years.” Doris has passed on the love of “going down to the shore” to her children, who continue the tradition.

Doris’ family thanks the staff of Spring Mill Pointe in Lafayette Hill for taking such good care of her in her final years. She felt she was among friends.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit the family Wednesday, August 6th, 2025 from 6 - 8pm at the Donohue Funeral Home, 366 W. Lancaster Avenue, Wayne PA (610-989-9600), and on Thursday, August 7th at the Funeral Mass at St. Katherine of Siena Church, 104 S. Aberdeen Avenue, Wayne, PA at 11:00am (visitors may arrive as early as 10 am to pay respects).  Her ashes will be interred in eternal rest with her husband Anthony at Arlington National Cemetery, where his service and memory are honored.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in memory of Doris DeFalco to The Fund for the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania or Catholic Charities at https://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/ways-to-give/