Dorothy D. Kowalonek - RN

Dorothy D. Kowalonek-RN, 91, of Shenandoah, passed away on Monday, October 21st at the Schuylkill Medical Center – Lehigh Valley East, Pottsville.  Born in Shenandoah on August 26th, 1928, she was the daughter of the late James and Mary “Dombroski” Gobster.

Dorothy was a 1947 graduate of Shenandoah Catholic High School and a 1950 graduate of the Pottsville School of Nursing.  After nursing school, she furthered her education, studying Polio therapy at Boston Children’s Hospital, then worked in iron lung rehabilitation at Baltimore Hospital, and was last employed in Shenandoah Heights at Riverside Central Rehabilitation for drug and alcohol addiction.  Dorothy was a member of the Catholic Nurses Association., the Catholic Daughters, and the Greater Shenandoah Area Senior Citizens.

She was preceded in death by the love of her life, her husband of 54 years, Paul Kowalonek in 2006, and 2 brothers, James Gobster Jr. & Paul Gobster.

Surviving are three sons, Mark Kowalonek with his wife Linda of Lake Hauto, Joseph Kowalonek with his wife Debi of Ambler, and Thomas Kowalonek with his wife Mary Ann of Auburn; two sisters, Theresa Labosky of Shenandoah and Marlene Klein of North Carolina; six grandchildren, Jillian, Jessica, Luke, Jaclyn, Jared, and Joshua; three great grandchildren, Eric, Violet, and Vayda; and nieces and nephews.

Dorothy lived a life of service, always putting others first, she was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and sister. She loved holding hands with Paul, watching her boys play Villanova and Lehigh football, family vacations at Buehler’s Idlewild, late night chats with her sister Theresa, playing bingo with Jillian, attending Tamaqua sporting events, watching Shenandoah Valley Girls basketball and volleyball games, visiting the twins, visits with her great grandchildren, visits to the casino, reading the paper and collecting articles about her family’s accomplishments, and she always ended her day with her rosary.

Her legacy will live on through her grandchildren, as they now have a very special guardian angel watching over them.  We take comfort knowing that she is reunited with her beloved Paul, who took her hand once again and led her to her eternal reward. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, October 24th at 10am in Divine Mercy Parish, 218 W. Cherry St, Shenandoah officiated by Msgr. Ronald Bocian.  A visitation for family and friends will take place in Divine Mercy Parish on Thursday morning from 8am to 10am.  Burial will follow mass in Sky- View Memorial Park, Hometown, PA.

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