Dorothy Kendzierski
September 26, 1926 — June 16, 2016
Dorothy F. Kendzierski, age 89 years formerly of Niles, Michigan died at 8:50 a.m. on Thursday, June 16, 2016 at Samaritan Evergreen Hospice House in Albany, Oregon following an illness.
She was born on September 26, 1926 in Detroit, Michigan. She graduated from Cass Tech, in Detroit and also lived in Mount Pleasant, Pontiac, Paw Paw and New Buffalo, Michigan – moving with her husband’s career as a Michigan State Trooper – before settling in Niles in 1979. In her later years she lived in Indianapolis, IN, Klamath Falls, OR and Albany, OR.
An accomplished seamstress, Dorothy made her own wedding dress, swimsuits, doll clothes and many other items of apparel for herself and her family. An avid bowler who rolled a 300 game, she also enjoyed dancing, gardening and playing softball.
On September 4, 1948 in Detroit she married the love of her life, Joseph Kendzierski with whom she celebrated forty-seven blessed years prior to his death on December 18, 1995. They were also preceded in death by a son, Joseph J. Kendzierski in 1989, a daughter, Francine Berman in 2009; son in law Craig Zemke and Dorothy’s sister, Rose Marie Grego and brothers, John Presher and Carl Presher.
Surviving family includes her children, Mary Ann Zemke of Corvallis, Oregon, Richard (& Rosanne) Josephs of Macomb, Michigan; Gary Kendzierski of Lake Linden, Michigan; grandchildren Mark (& Lauren) Josephs, Katie Josephs, Lisa (& Dave) Garwood, Ron Huffstutter, Bronson (& Jennifer) Kendzierski, Joseph (& Rachel) Kendzierski; great-grandchildren Joie Garwood, Jenna Garwood, Lillian Josephs, Michael Josephs, and Dorothy’s sister, Betty Jane Kirk of Corunna, Michigan; and many nieces and nephews.
The Mass of Christian Burial for Dorothy Kendzierski will be celebrated at Saint Mary Catholic Church in Niles at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 25th, 2016 by the Rev. Alphonse Savarimuthu, MSFS of the parish assisted by Deacon Roger Gregorski. Committal Rites will follow at the Calvary Cemetery in Niles.
The family will receive relatives and friends on Friday, June 24 from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with recitation of The Rosary at 7:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Dorothy Kendzierski may be made to Saint Mary Catholic Church, 219 South State Street, Niles, Michigan 49120, or Samaritan Evergreen Hospice House, 4600 Evergreen Place SE, Albany, OR, 97321.