The world yelled a final goodbye to Gloria (Dodi) Oleynek, nee Florio, who peacefully left us on December 17th, 2020, while at home and surrounded by her family.  Dodi was the beloved wife of the late Fred Oleynek and much loved mother of Joe Oleynek (Renee), Jeanne Oleynek, Paula Bednarcik (Ed), Fred Oleynek(Amy), Margy Gauthier (Russ), Steve Oleynek (Deb), Gloria Murphy (Todd) and Sue Geel (Bryan).

She was a loving Nana to Lauren, Ted, Erin, Jessica, Kelsey, Meg, Stephen, Joseph, Michael, Matthew, Maria, and great granddaughter, Sofia.

Dodi packed a lot of life in her 93 years which began on February 26th, 1927 in the Bronx, NY. She grew up in a very close-knit Italian family, the youngest of eight children in a house on the waterfront in the Throggs Neck section of the Bronx. She attended high school at the Villa Maria Academy, and college at Notre Dame on Staten Island where she earned graduate degrees in Chemistry and Psychology.

Following graduation, she opened the first independently owned Electroencephalography lab in the country, at Montefiore Hospital.

Dodi first had a crush on Fred at 13 years old, when he would visit Throggs Neck in the summers.  They remained friends while Fred served in WWII, and began dating after the war.  They were married in 1952 at St. Raymond's Church and moved into their first home on Linden Ave in the Bronx.  The newlyweds very quickly became a family of 6, and they moved into 3099 Bevy Place in Fort Schuyler.  Life at Bevy Place was a love-filled experience since Dodi's mother (Noni) and father lived downstairs, and her 6 sisters and brothers (Louis, Jean, Aldo. Hugo, Pappy, and Olga) all lived nearby with their growing families. Sundays were special as Noni's kitchen served as the command center for the cacophony of laughter, music, and dozens of little kids running through a room fragrant with the aromas of classic Italian cooking.

Fred and Dodi then purchased their summer home in Spencertown in 1959.  Thus began the idyllic summers "up the country" with Dodi's niece and best friend, Tootsie, and all of their 13 children.

Eventually, in 1970 Dodi and Fred moved to Spencertown permanently and lived in the small cottage, while Fred rebuilt the main house that was destroyed in a 1964 fire.  Within minutes of moving to Spencertown, Dodi was scooped up by her new neighbor and soon to be lifelong friend, Frieda Gabel.  Frieda dragged Dodi to her first St. Peter's Tower Club meeting, and the other members had no idea what was coming through that door!  Dodi remained active in the club for 30 years and enjoyed a lifetime of friendships and activities.

In 1988, after all her children left the nest, Dodi finally had the opportunity to follow her lifelong passion for books and reading.  She established the world famous Hock-it Books Store in Chatham.  Hock-it Books was a thriving business on Main St for 30 years.  Dodi was an active member of the Chatham Business Alliance for many years, and also served on the Board for several years.

Hock-it Books became the place to be!  Customers were greeted with a cheery hello and then entertained with endless stories, jokes, and advice on personal problems, career choices, and parenting.  How many bookstores have chairs facing the front desk for customers to enjoy the entertainment and get advice on their love lives?

It was during these years that Dodi became a Nana to her 11 grandchildren. She was the most loving, caring and fun Nana that a child could ask for.  Christmases were filled with love and laughter, and many games and presents.  She also began the tradition of the Thanksgiving Family Talent Show, which included skits and "talents" of all varieties. Nana cherished each and every grandchild and lovingly knitted each one an afghan for their beds when they went off to college. These memories are cherished as there was no one like Nana.

Dodi naturally pulled us all in... and that's where we wanted to stay.

The world's loss is heaven's gain.

In recognition of Dodi's lifelong love of books and reading, her family will be establishing a local chapter of The Imagination Library in her memory.  It is an organization that sends free books to eligible children under 5 years of age.  This seems appropriate as we have all heard Dodi yelling "Take a free book from the basket" on your way out of her bookstore.

Should friends desire, contributions may be made payable to The Imagination Library and kindly mail your donation to:

John Connor Jr., Esq.

PO Box 427

76 Green St.

Hudson NY 12534

Dodi was also a generous supporter of St. Jude Hospital. If you would like, contributions may be made payable to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and kindly mail your donation to:

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

501 St. Jude Place

Memphis, TN 3810

A private celebration of Dodi's life will be held when we are all allowed to hug each other and remember our mom/Nana the way she would have wanted, and truly deserved.