Delores Weitzel

Delores Rene Weitzel

With a schedule you could set your watch by, a heart big enough for everyone she met, and a smile that lit up every room, Delores Rene Weitzel lived a full and joyful life. Born on April 21, 1931, in Sebeka, Minnesota, to Ray and Hilma Sirois, Delores brought warmth, energy, and grace to everything she did.

On July 29, 1952, she married her “handsome friend” (as she referred to him) and the love of her life, William Louis Weitzel, at the Church of St. Anthony in St. Cloud, MN. The couple chose Wahpeton as their forever home, where they raised four daughters, created lifelong friendships, and embraced every season of life with love and laughter.

Delores was an exceptional cook, a devoted gardener, and a meticulous housekeeper. She was famously routine-driven—meals were served at the same time every day for 70 years, and everyone knew not to test that schedule. She somehow packed more energy into each day than most people do in a week and was never, ever late.

She gave generously of her time to her community, participating in organizations including St. John’s PTA and Circle, League of Women Voters, AFS, PEO – Chapter 13, a bowling league, bridge club, and the Bois De Sioux Women’s Golf League.

Whether hosting a dinner, leading a meeting, or simply tending her home, Delores did it all with intention, warmth, and a quiet strength. She leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter, and impeccable timing.

Delores is survived by her children, Ann (Tim) Schmidt, Patricia (Doug) Hicks, and Jennifer Bourassa, along with six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her “handsome friend,” William Weitzel, to whom she is back in the loving arms of, daughter Deborah Weitzel, and Billy Whitaker.

Delores’s Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at 10:30 am, with visitation a half hour prior at St. John’s Catholic Church in Wahpeton, ND. Burial will follow the mass at Calvary Cemetery. Arrangements have been entrusted to Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, Wahpeton.