Her son is newly engaged, and Dolores Catania could be next. “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” star may soon be an engaged woman now that her boyfriend Paul Connell’s divorce is finalized.

In February 2025, Catania and her man spoke with The Daily Mail on the heels of Connell’s long overdue divorce from his ex-wife Joanne. Connell and his ex were separated for more than a decade before she filed for divorce in February 2021.  Their divorce was finalized in February 2025.

Connell told the outlet that now that he’s a free man, he’s planning to pop the question to Catania, but he wants the time and place to remain a surprise.

“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.”

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Paul Connell Bought the Ring a While Ago

Connell had the ring made long before his divorce was final.  In a RHONJ season 13 episode that aired in May 2023, he had quite the response when Catania’s protective ex-husband Frank grilled him about where their relationship was going, according to E! News.

After Frank asked him, “Does she tell you what kind of ring she wants?,” Connell replied, “I already have it!”

In a December 2024 interview with In Touch Weekly, Connell said he purchased a special stone for his girlfriend of more than three years when she was with him. “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 even though Catania had seen the stone, Connell promised she would never see the proposal coming.

“It’s going to be a surprise,” he teased his future proposal to the RHONJ star. “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]’.”

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Paul Connell Praised Dolores For Standing by His Side During His Long Divorce Process

Connell’s divorce was a long time coming. During a February 2025 appearance on SiriusXM’s Jeff Lewis Live, Catania said a lot of people gave both her and Connell grief over the fact that he was legally married to another woman when they started dating.

Both revealed they are relieved that the divorce is finally a done deal. Connell also praised Catania for standing by him throughout the process. “I will forever be grateful for that because that meant a lot to me,” he told The Mail. “I’m really happy that she stood by me, and this lets me know that I’m with somebody that really cares for me.’

He also described his future bride as “a great partner, a great friend, a great role model.” “She brings value to the table,” Connell added. “She has a beautiful family, and anybody would be an idiot to not want that in their life.”