Wife, Mother, Grandma, GG, Anna Delores (Nielsen) McDaniel passed away peacefully at home on the evening of January 31, 2025, surrounded by family. She was 93. Delores was born on October 15, 1931, in Marcus, Iowa, to loving parents Art and Mildred (Galvin) Nielsen. While at Marcus High School, Delores met and fell in love with Bill McDaniel. They married on February 14, 1952, in Marcus. They later welcomed a son, Charles, and a daughter, Betty. Eventually the family would relocate to and settle in Anaheim, California.
Once her children were school aged, Delores took a position in retail working for JCPenny’s. She worked there for over 23 years and received many recognitions over her time at JCP.
After retiring from JCPenny’s Delores spent many years giving to others. She regularly gave blood to the blood banks to help those in need. She volunteered many hours at her church helping to provide meals for funerals and weddings. She helped count the church offerings every Monday. Her favorite volunteer activity was working in a Lutheran thrift shop that benefitted the Lutheran High School. She worked 1-2 days a week. She was well loved there, not only because she was a joy to be around, she was organized and worked hard, but she brought a delicious baked dessert with her every time she came to work.
Delores and Bill hosted many holidays where she would begin days in advance, making all her family’s favorite foods. Christmas was her favorite time to share her baked treats with everyone. Every year she would take several weeks and bake between 15 and 17 different types of cookies to share with family and friends.
Delores loved to cross stitch and thankfully every member of the family has many of her beautiful creations to remember her by. She also had a card ready for all of life’s special days and with that there was never a birthday or anniversary or graduation that did not have a card in the mail telling you that, although you may be far in distance, Delores aka Grandma & Grandpa GG, were always thinking of you.
In November of 2003, Delores and Bill lost their daughter Betty after a valiant fight with breast cancer. The family takes peace in knowing Delores is now celebrating in heaven with Betty.
Delores and Bill lived over 50 years in that same home in Anaheim until deciding to move closer to family in 2019.
Delores was preceded in death by both her parents, a sister, Mable (Nielsen) Mortenson, a brother, Duane Nielsen, and her daughter, Betty Finucan.
She is survived by her loving husband of 73 years, Bill McDaniel of Yucaipa, California, a sister, Joan (Nielsen) Tucker of Greenwood, Indiana, a son, Charles McDaniel of Indio, California, granddaughters, Wendy (Finucan) Montgomery and husband Sid, of Calimesa, California and Kara (McDaniel) McCubbin and husband Ken of Mulberry, Arkansas; grandsons, Brad Finucan of Yucaipa and Gregg McDaniel and wife Shelly of Indio, California. Also left to carry on the Delores Christmas Cookie Tradition are 9 great-grandchildren, Tyler, Macy & Makenzie Montgomery, Glenna McCubbin, Molly & Monroe Finucan and Luke, Nora & Paige McDaniel, along with several nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life was held at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Redlands, California, on March 29th, 2025.