When Dolores Catania joined Real Housewives of New Jersey during Season 7, she felt relatable. She was raised in an old-school way, just like her longtime friend, Teresa Giudice. And her two children were the center of her universe.
Although she was divorced from their father, Frank Catania, Dolores and Frank still had an unusual bond. The duo were platonic best friends and even lived together at one point. Plus, this RHONJ star loved to give back to charities and brought her co-stars along for the ride. For the past two seasons, Bravo filmed a charity softball event to benefit Maimonides Health Center in Brooklyn. I love it when our Bravo stars give back.
But Dolores was also tough when she needed to be. Crossing Dolores is never a good idea, or “Paterson Dolores” may appear. Both Teresa and Dolores grew up in Paterson, New Jersey, and they weren’t shy about putting someone on notice.
Let’s take a look back at Dolores Catania’s most memorable RHONJ quotes.
RHONJ Season 7 – “We need to speak softly to each other. Let’s try it. It’s something new for all of us.”
During the Season 7 finale, Dolores, Siggy Flicker, Melissa Gorga, Teresa, and Jacqueline Laurita gathered at The Rails Steakhouse to air out their grievances. However, nothing went according to plan. Jacqueline insisted that she speak one-on-one with Teresa, and soon everyone was raising their voice.
At first, Dolores tried to bring down the tension. “We need to speak softly to each other. Let’s try it,” Dolores stated. “It’s something new for all of us.”
But that didn’t work. Jacqueline stormed out of the restaurant, and Siggy and Dolores chased her into the parking lot to try and salvage the messy sit-down. This was the end of Teresa and Jaqueline’s friendship at the time. Of course, the Season 14 finale was also held at The Rails, and that one didn’t fare much better.
RHONJ Season 8 – “Shut up, Margaret, for two seconds!”
When Dolores and Siggy told their co-stars that they were walking in the Posche fashion show, everyone was furious. After all, Kim DePaola had been spreading rumors that Teresa’s then-husband, Joe Giudice, was a cheater. However, now she said that Teresa was cheating while Joe was in prison.
Naturally, Teresa screamed at Dolores for not defending her and smashed a glass against the wall. Dolores jumped up and slammed her fist on the table as the two ladies screamed at each other. When Margaret Josephs tried to explain how hurt Melissa and Teresa were, Dolores closed her down with her snappy comeback. “Shut up, Margaret, for two seconds!” she exclaimed.
RHONJ Season 8 – “Yes, my ex-husband who cheated on me is moving back in.”
Well, having your ex-husband move back in after he hits a rough patch with his girlfriend was an interesting dynamic for RHONJ. Dolores had no problem with Frank moving back in. However, she did bust him for bringing over his stuff in a Gucci bag. “Yes, my ex-husband who cheated on me is moving back in,” Dolores said in her confessional.
Let’s just say that the other Garden State ladies found it odd. The couple split when an expectant Dolores discovered that Frank was cheating. But she made sure that the family stayed tight-knit, and they always put their children first. While Frank and Dolores were roomies, she was dating Dr. David Principe, who became Frank’s bestie. Dolores could have had her own spinoff with this set-up.
RHONJ Season 8 – “Welcome back, scumbag!”
Dolores wasn’t on board with Teresa bringing Danielle Staub back into the group. And Danielle didn’t waste any time stirring up trouble. She told Teresa that Dolores was talking about her behind her back. So, Teresa accused Dolores of not being a good friend.
However, Dolores claimed that she never spoke ill of Teresa. Then Danielle chimed in, stating that Dolores told her that, “Teresa doesn’t care about anyone or anything more than money.”
Welcome back, Paterson Dolores! Dolores jumped up and pointed her finger in Danielle’s face. And the accompanying rant was spectacular and vintage Dolores.
“You mother*cking liar! You’re a f*cking liar,” Dolores shouted. “I never, ever, ever said that. You’re a crazy scumbag. Scumbag! Scumbag! Welcome back, scumbag!” she added. I think that Danielle got the message.
RHONJ Season 8 – “Look loyalty up in the dictionary, and you’ll find my face.”
Dolores’s tagline, “Look loyalty up in the dictionary, and you’ll find my face” is fitting for this season. Not only did Teresa believe Danielle’s claims that Dolores was speaking behind her back, but she took Danielle’s word over hers.
Then, Dolores’ loyalty was once again questioned by Teresa, Melissa, and Danielle when she and Siggy decided to walk in the Posche fashion show. The event was for charity, but the other ladies couldn’t get past Dolores’ perceived lack of loyalty.
In the end, Dolores always prided herself on being a loyal friend, and she had always been loyal to Teresa. But if Teresa did something wrong, Dolores would point it out. Sadly, during Season 8, Dolores and Teresa were pulled apart by Danielle’s claims.
RHONJ Season 12 – “But I don’t need to hear it from this.”
During Jackie Goldschneider’s keg party, Jackie managed to find herself on Dolores’ bad side. After Jennifer Aydin shared that Jackie had warned her that Dolores was better friends with Margaret, Dolores insisted that she was friends with both ladies.
When Jackie strolled over, Dolores asked why she was concerned about her relationship with Jennifer. Jackie explained that Jennifer needed support and that she didn’t think that Dolores was there for her. So, Dolores asked Jennifer if she felt that Dolores supported her enough. After Jennifer confessed that she didn’t, Dolores agreed to give more.
“But I don’t need to hear it from this,” Dolores said, gesturing at Jackie. “Don’t f*cking call me this!” Jackie exclaimed repeatedly. Dolores got heated and got in Jackie’s face. And just like that, Paterson Dolores was back.
RHONJ Season 14 – “Then she’s smart. She’s a lot smarter than you, I guess.”
When Margaret and Jackie continued to feud at Melissa’s party, Dolores ended up in the middle of the chaos. Jackie taunted Margaret that she was upset because she was now friends with Teresa. The nerve!
So, when Jackie started to chat with Dolores, Margaret sent Dolores a screenshot of a text conversation with Jackie. And it was juicy. Finally, Dolores checked her phone and saw that Jackie had called her a “f*cking slob.” No one calls Dolores a slob.
She showed her phone to Jackie, who tried to pass the blame on to Margaret. She said that Margaret spoke badly about Dolores and her boyfriend, Paul Connell. Jackie added that Margaret didn’t preserve her thoughts by writing them. “Then she’s smart. She’s a lot smarter than you, I guess,” Dolores told an uncomfortable Jackie.
RHONJ Season 14 – “I’m not saying we’re gonna gumbaya out of here.”
Dolores and Jenn Fessler banded together to plan a retreat to try to bring some peace to the warring cast. Well, let’s face it, Dolores planned everything. She found an amazing property in the Berkshires, with a separate house for Teresa and Jennifer Aydin.
The RHONJ star planned a corn maze, trust exercises, a picnic, and other activities to keep everyone occupied. Most of all, Dolores wanted everyone to stay for the entire process. For Dolores, everyone achieving peace was the main objective.
She told Jenn, “I’m not saying we’re gonna gumbaya out of here.” I love Dolores’ twist on the word “kumbayah.” Well, as it turns out, the retreat never happened. The property burned down, and instead, the group met at The Rails for their sit-down, which served as the divisive finale.
Still, Dolores gave viewers some memorable RHONJ quotes over the years, ranging from the hilarious to the furious.
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TELL US – WHICH OF DOLORES CATANIA’S RHONJ QUOTES IS THE MOST MEMORABLE?
