It looks like romance is in the air for Dolores Catania and her boyfriend Paul Connell! After the excitement surrounding the engagement of her son, Frankie Catania Jr., the couple is now teasing their own big moment. Connell, who has been dating the Real Housewives of New Jersey star for over three years, recently revealed that he’s planning a surprise proposal. But it won’t be any ordinary proposal—Connell is determined to throw Dolores off the scent and keep the details under wraps.
In an exclusive interview with The Daily Mail, Connell opened up about the special ring he’s had in his possession for some time and how he’s been preparing for this moment while waiting for the perfect time to ask Dolores for her hand in marriage.
“I have the ring. I have it in my possession,” he shared. “I’ve always had the stone. I got the ring made. It is absolutely stunning. So I can go at any time. There’s nothing that’s going to push or prevent me from doing it now because I have free stage. But the emphasis of surprise is always the best thing.”
Connell’s commitment to keeping the proposal under wraps is evident, as he added that he’s had the ring for some time. In fact, he had the stone long before his divorce was finalized, hinting at how much he’s been thinking about this moment for a while.
His future proposal may even have a little bit of drama—something Catania might expect given her life on RHONJ. In a past episode of the show (Season 13), Connell had a memorable exchange with Catania’s ex-husband Frank, who was understandably curious about the direction of their relationship. When Frank asked, “Does she tell you what kind of ring she wants?,” Connell responded confidently, “I already have it!”
And if that wasn’t enough to keep fans intrigued, Connell added a bit more fuel to the fire in a December 2024 interview with In Touch Weekly. He shared that when he bought the stone, it was a shared experience with Catania. “I have the ring. I’ve always had the [ring],” he said. “I had the stone. I bought the stone a long time ago with her. I knew what she liked.”
But here’s the kicker—though Catania has seen the stone, Connell promised that the proposal itself will be a total surprise. He even joked that when the moment happens, Catania will be completely caught off guard. “It’s going to be a surprise,” he teased. “She’s going to never expect it. Whenever it happens, I’m going to throw her so off the scent that whenever it happens, she’s going to be like, ‘You mother [expletive]’.”
This announcement comes just after Catania’s son, Frankie Catania Jr., got engaged, making it clear that romance is in the air for the Catania family. With an engagement on the horizon for both mother and son, 2025 is shaping up to be a year of celebrations for the family.
