Dora Mae Czerkie, 91 of Petoskey passed away Monday, October 1st at Hiland Cottage. Dora Mae’s family will remember and celebrate her life during a Funeral Mass that will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 6, 2018 at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. The Mass will be led by Fr.
Dennis Stilwell. Visitation and a wake service will be held at Stone Funeral Home on Friday from 6:00-8:00 p.m. and a visitation again on Saturday morning at the church beginning at 9:30 a.m. Burial will take place in Greenwood Cemetery in Petoskey. Dora Mae’s life began on September 13, 1927 in Grand Rapids, with her birth to Troy and Sarah (Greene) Tharp.
In 1930 her family moved north to Petoskey where they settled on Howard Street. Dora attended school in Petoskey and was a graduate of the PHS Class of 1945. On November 8, 1945 she married Stanley D. Czerkie at St. Francis Church.
For a short time the couple moved to Rhode Island where Stanley was stationed in the military. The couple moved back to Petoskey and together ran Stan Czerkie Electric and Refrigeration for more than three decades. To say that Dora Mae was a dedicated wife and mother would be an understatement.
She raised and cared for each of her eight children with the same warmth, attention, and kindness from her first born to her last. Her children cannot remember a time growing up when she was not there for them, providing for every need with warmth and grace. She was a wonderful homemaker and an exceptional cook.
She never failed to make a favorite birthday cake from scratch for every birthday. Dora Mae passed down the traditional Christmas Eve pierogi of her mother-in-law to her children and grandchildren. They will forever remember a mother and grandmother who always tried to instill in them the importance of treating everyone with dignity and respect, and to give everyone the benefit of the doubt in every situation.
She was a special lady and she will be greatly missed. Dora Mae enjoyed gardening, country roads, berry picking and in her later years she enjoyed golfing on the Springbrook Woman’s League and was very active with the Red Hat Society. Dora’s family include her children, Cathleen Tibbits, Cynthia Parker, David (Becky) Czerkie, Constance (Gary) Lewinski, Deborah Czerkie, Michael (Sharon) Czerkie, Sarah (Marty) Krupa and Jennifer (Dan) Muller, 15 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband Stanley, a great-grandson, Spencer Tibbits and by her sisters, Dorothy Tharp, Thelma Vaughn, Alma Stemen, and Mary Jane Leismer. Those wishing to remember Dora Mae with a charitable contribution are asked to consider St. Francis Xavier Church or McLaren Northern Michigan Foundation. Friends may also wish to share memories or offer condolences online at www.
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