'RHONJ' Star Dolores Catania Talks Relationship With Ex Frank, Her Independence

Instagram | Dolores Catania

Dolores Catania and her former husband, Frank Catania, may have divorced over 20 years ago but when it comes to their current relationship, they're as close as ever.

While Dolores has been dating boyfriend Dr. David Principe for the last couple of years, she admitted to Us Weekly on Friday, May 14, that while she and Frank divorced, they never actually separated.

“Everybody wants us to be together. We are together, we really are," Dolores admitted on the magazine's "Getting Real With the Housewives" podcast. 

Instagram | Dolores Catania

"We never separated, even though we got the divorce, which I hope I could write about someday so that people can understand that you could still have a relationship with someone,” Dolores explained. “Life is constantly changing, no matter what happens.”

During their marriage, Dolores and Frank welcomed two children, including daughter Gabrielle, 25, and son Frank Jr., 23. And after their divorce, they remained close as they continued to raise their two children as a family.

Now that the children are grown, Dolores is enjoying her independence.

Instagram | Dolores Catania

“I’ve gotten used to the freedom that I have now without the kids, without responsibilities, without accountabilities," she shared.

As for her future with boyfriend Dr. David, the "Real Housewives of New Jersey" star said that she will consider the idea of marriage when the opportunity presents itself.

"I don’t know, maybe I’d get married and live separate,” Dolores said. “When I first got married to Frank, I didn’t know that there was an option to live a life without being married."

Instagram | Dolores Catania

"It was the way I was raised. You graduate, you become a wife and a mother, and that’s just the only mentality I knew," Dolores continued.

That said, after spending decades as a technically single woman, Dolores believes she's seen growth as an individual. 

"But now, I grow so much from freedom. You grow so much, and you learn so much more about yourself. So, I’ve learned a lot about myself and had a lot of time to think about things,” she noted.

Instagram | Dolores Catania

While Dolores hoped to become engaged to Dr. David upon the completion of his home, an engagement ring never came and they continue to date casually. 

To see more of Dolores, Frank, David, and their cast mates, don't miss the two-part "Real Housewives of New Jersey" reunion special, which begins airing on Wednesday, May 19, at 9/8c on Bravo.

Also, to find out how Dr. David felt about the ongoing chatter regarding his relationship with Dolores, scroll down to the next article.