Dee Brancato

(From Mason-Woodard Mortuary)

Our loving mother, Dolores Marie Brancato, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on February 22, 2026, at Westgate Nursing at Wildwood Ranch in Joplin, Missouri.

Dolores, also known as Dee or Dee Dee, was born on February 25, 1939, in Cleveland, Ohio, to James Nicholas Brancato and Anna Marie Appuglies. Dolores would have been 87 on her birth date.

Dolores married Warren Lewis Prentiss in 1958. Warren and Dolores had three children together. In 1959 she received her Evening High School Diploma from the Los Angeles City High School District. She used her secretarial skills throughout the years. Dolores loved cooking, baking, and gardening.

At a young age, Dolores pursued her passion for singing with music lessons to train her soprano voice. She decided to use her gifts and talents for the church and ministry such as being a part of the Worship Team and Choir. At Christmastime, Sister Dolores had a signature song where she led the choir in "Oh Holy Night" with her angelic but powerful soprano voice.

Sister Dolores attended, loved, and served in Faith Tabernacle Full Gospel Revival Center, under Reverend Pat Yarbrough, since the church was founded until the Reverend's passing in 2013.

It was her honor and labor of love to serve in cleaning the church, cooking, and helping with fellowship dinners, preparing for communion services, and Baptism Certificates. She felt blessed serving others inside the church and outside the church.

Dee loved people well with a kind, generous heart. She was a mother, sister and friend to so many. She never met a stranger and was always shining her light!

She had her own unique Italian sayings that made us laugh to tears without her even trying. Dee loved to be teased as well. She will be greatly missed by so many who loved her.

Dolores was preceded in death by her parents, James and Anna Brancato; brother, Peter Brancato.
Survivors include three children; Linda Prentiss and Lisa Prentiss Gonzales of Joplin, Missouri; son Alan Prentiss of Henderson, Nevada; Sister-in-Love Pamela Brancato of Murrieta, California; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; and two honorary family members, Jim and Peggy Wilson of Joplin, Missouri.

The family wishes to thank Faith Tabernacle and Pastor Twyla Johnson, Joplin, MO, for the four decades of lifelong family, friendship, love, and ministry.

The family wishes to thank ChristPoint Church and Pastor Josh Pennington in Galena, KS, for their lovingkindness and friendships during Sister Dolores' sunset years.

The family also wishes to thank Westgate Nursing at Wildwood Ranch and the Three Rivers Hospice for their wonderful care.