Apolinaria “Polly” B. Dimapilis (nee Bello), 92, of Sicklerville, NJ passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Friday, January 16, 2026.

She is the beloved wife of 55 years to the late Reynaldo B. Dimapilis, devoted mother of Annabelle (Gary) Brattelli, Betty Lou (Raymond) Bongiovi, Robert (Joede) Dimapilis and William (Evelyn) Dimapilis. Cherished Grandmother of Vincent Brattelli, Dante Brattelli, Zan Bongiovi, Mick Bongiovi, QTP2T Dimapilis, Aliya (Noah) Acosta, Sierra Dimapilis and Dominic Dimapilis. Adored Great Grandmother of Angelo Vollmar-Brattelli. Loving Auntie and Tita to many. She was pre-deceased by her parents Santiago and Simona (nee Reduca) Bello, her brothers Amado, Julian, Esteban and her sister Feliciana.

Polly was born in Magallanes, Cavite, Philippines on July 23, 1933. She was the first in her family to attend and graduate high school. It was during this time that she met the love of her life, Rey. Polly went on to college and graduated with a degree in teaching. Rey entered the US Navy while Polly remained in the Philippines, engaged to Rey for 6 ½ years. She eventually joined Rey as a Proud Navy Wife while he was stationed in Connecticut, Iceland, Virginia, Iceland again, and finally Philadelphia. During this time, their 4 children were born. Not only was Polly the backbone of the family – supporting Rey, nurturing their children and maintaining their household – she was also contributing to the financial wellbeing of the family. She worked as an associate in the Navy Exchange, then as a supervisor at the Keflavik Naval Air Station Nursery/Pre-school. In Philly, she changed course and worked as a manager for both Hawthorne Advertising and Cosmopolitan Advertising – for a while she worked full-time at both!

When Rey retired from the Navy, the family moved to Cherry Hill, NJ. It was here that life really became busy for Polly. She continued to support her children through high school – attending band concerts, school plays, track meets and football games. But she also became one of the original Dance Moms – supporting the Youth Dance Troupe of the Filipino-American Association of Philadelphia, Inc (FAAPI). She hosted practices, she cooked, she sewed and she nurtured these children also. But this wasn’t enough for Polly. She decided to go back to school and began a career as a cosmetologist, eventually establishing her own successful business, finding her niche as the hairdresser for the Filipinas in the area.

As her children entered college and then graduated, Polly’s activities changed. As evidenced by the almost 100 trophies in her home, she was able to bowl more – frequently receiving the trophies for high average, high game and high series as well as 1st place finishes with her team. She and Rey joined the Choral Group of the Filipino American Society of South Jersey (FASSJ). As their friends were down-sizing, Polly and Rey bought their dream home in Sicklerville, NJ.

Polly’s faith was always a very important part of her life. In Cherry Hill, she was a member of the Altar and Rosary Society at Queen of Heaven Church. She was then a Eucharistic minister at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Sicklerville and was a decades long member of the Santo Nino group of South Jersey.

While she considered her children, grandchildren and great-grandson her biggest successes, she was also very proud of the different honors bestowed upon her by the Filipino community. These included “Mother of the Year 1990” (FAAPI), “Outstanding Parents of the Year 2004-2005” (Kayumanggi Society of Philadelphia), “Love Awardee of the Year 2012 (FASSJ), and the “Lifetime Achievement Award 2004” (FASSJ).

She will be greatly missed by her family and by the Filipino community.

Farewell Tribute

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her viewing from 1:00PM to 5:00PM on Sunday, February 8th and 9:00AM to 10:00AM February 9th at the McGuinness Funeral Home-(Washington Township Location), 573 Egg Harbor Road, Sewell, NJ.  Immediately to follow Funeral Mass at 11:00AM in St. Charles Borromeo RC Church, 176 Stagecoach Road, Sicklerville, NJ.  Entombment Calvary Cemetery, 2398 Marlton Pike West, Cherry Hill, NJ.

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