Obituary of Dolores M. Hissim

Dolores Marie Hissim (nee Collins), aged 87, of Oxford, NJ, passed away peacefully at her home on Saturday, June 29, 2024. She was born on January 20, 1937, in Oxford, NJ, to Madeline and Leo Collins. Dolores was a lifelong resident of Oxford, NJ, where she was active and beloved in her community.  She was a 1954 graduate of Washington High School where she enjoyed being part of the marching band.

Dolores was married to Harvey Hissim for 58 years until his passing in 2012.  He endearingly called her Sally. She was a devoted mother to eight children: Ed, Rob, Andy, Mick, Tim, Peggy, Joe, and Jerry. She never removed her mother’s ring as it was her way to carry us with her every day.  She cherished spending time with her family, from daily outings to Oxford Lake to weekend camping trips and season long camping at the Sea Isle City jersey shore. Her family meant everything to her.

She played a vital role in her community, dedicating her time to various initiatives. Her contributions included involvement with the Oxford Youth Recreation, serving as an early police dispatcher from her residence, establishing the Oxford EMS support team, engaging with the local Young at Heart Seniors' Club, and being a faithful catholic and committed member of St. Rose of Lima parish. Her active participation and volunteer work in the community will forever be remembered and valued. 

The Oxford EMS members will certainly miss the baked goods she would regularly make for them.  We will all miss the tins of holiday cookie choices.  Lost to time will be her signature Candy Cane buns and Rice Pudding, like her mothers’ Cinnamon Rolls and Coconut Frosted Cake, and Aunt Kate’s Fattigmann.

Sewing was her passion! When in a sewing store, she was like a kid in a candy shop. If you needed a tuck here and hem there, she would make it happen. Her Viking and OverLok machines would be humming away.  During COVID, she made 1000’s of masks, mostly going to first responders across the country.  In more recent years, she loved to sew soft baby books and soup cozies.  Let us not forget the embroidery machine, from putting crosses on church linen to shirts with anything you can imagine.  Like her mother, she loved making baptismal bibs.

She was proud of her Irish heritage and made the journey to visit Ireland. While the journey satisfied her travel bug, she continued to search for that pot of gold at the casino.

Dolores is survived by her daughter, Peggy Hissim of Oxford, NJ; sons, Ed (Colleen), of Ronceverte WV, Mick (Alice) of Washington, NJ, Joe (Jamie) of Virginia Beach, VA, and Jerry of Philadelphia, PA. Also surviving is her nephew whom she considered her brother, Bob Collins: many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Dolores was predeceased her baby girl Sally, and by her sons, Rob, Andy (surviving wife Pat) and Tim (surviving wife Cathy).

Friends and relatives can visit with Dolores’s family on Friday, July 5^th from 5:00 until 8:00 PM at the Knoll-DeVoe Funeral Home & Cremation Service, located at 142 West Washington Avenue, Washington NJ. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Saturday, July 6^th at 11:00 am at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, located at 85 Academy Street, Oxford NJ 07863. Interment will follow mass in the Hissim family plot in the church cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Dolores’s name may be made to the Oxford Rescue Squad #39. Donations may be mailed or dropped off to the squad at, 76 Academy Street, Oxford NJ 07863