A Jersey lady in love! Dolores Catania and Paul “Paulie” Connell had been going robust earlier than season 13 of The Actual Housewives of New Jersey — however that didn’t imply she wasn’t hesitant about placing her love life on the Bravo collection.
“I don’t wanna put him on. Completely not. However I do know what I signed up for and [him] being such part of my life — he wasn’t any person who I’m going out to dinner with occasionally. , he’s not only a good friend. He’s part of my life now,” Catania solely informed Us Weekly forward of the February 2023 premiere. “I’m nervous for him as a result of this can be a huge deal to folks. , Paul’s a really profitable electrical contractor within the metropolis. He owns an organization referred to as Eco Electrical, and he’s achieved so effectively, and he got here to this nation alone [from Ireland] in his 20s. And he simply, like, took over a lot after which I’m like, ‘You’ll have achieved that, you’ve might have left your complete household behind out of the country and got here right here and change into this big success in one of many best locations on this planet, however I’m going to inform you, I don’t know that you just’re ready for this.’”
RHONJ viewers have watched the previous corrections officer navigate her relationship together with her ex-husband, Frank Catania, since she joined the present in season 7 in 2016. The previous couple share grownup kids Gabby and Frankie. Whereas Frank obtained alongside effectively with Dolores’ ex-boyfriend David Principe, it hasn’t been utterly easy crusing between her new beau and former partner.
“We’re not on the perfect of phrases as a result of Paul just isn’t used to the dynamic between Dolores and me,” Frank informed Us in October 2022. “In the event you spend extra time with Dolores and me, you get to see there’s nothing to fret about, proper? I really like her. I’ll all the time love her. I all the time maintain her. … He’s gotten higher, and we’ve spent a way more time collectively and I feel he’s gotten far more comfy.”
He added: “Any rigidity that was there earlier than, I really feel it’s gone. … After I see him, we hug now.”
Whereas some followers refuse to surrender hope that Frank and Dolores might ultimately reconcile, she informed Us that it doesn’t hassle Paulie.
“I attempt to put myself in his footwear on a regular basis. … I’m very aware of him and his emotions and the scenario,” Dolores informed Us in February 2023. “So I attempted to make him — and I feel everybody tried to make him — as comfy as you can. … I feel Frank wished so badly simply to love, ‘Hey bro, we’re bros.’ And Paul’s like, ‘I’m simply getting in a relationship together with her. I’ll get to know you, however I don’t wanna be in a relationship with you and Dolores.’ I attempted to elucidate [to] Frank, I’m establishing my life now. The dynamics have modified a bit bit as a result of I wished this relationship to be totally different than my different ones.”
Scroll by for Dolores and Connell’s timeline:
