Michalec, Dorothy Mae Thomas

Dorothy Mae Thomas Michalec, 82, of 3731 Dennis Dr. NW, No. 5, died Thursday, Dec. 24, 2009, at Mercy Medical Center after a short illness. Services: 10 a.m. Monday, St. Patrick Catholic Church, by the Rev. Phil Thompson. Burial: St. John Cemetery. A vigil service will be held Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at Teahen Funeral Home, where friends may visit from 2 to 6 p.m. on Sunday and from 8:30 to 9:15 a.m.

Monday.

Dorothy was born in Palo on Nov. 30, 1927, to Alfred and Lelia Elson Thomas. She grew up in and around the Palo-Shellsburg area, and graduated from Shellsburg High School in 1945. She married Joseph W. Michalec on Jan. 18, 1951, at St Wencseslaus Church in Cedar Rapids.

She is survived by her husband; four sons, Joseph “Tom” (Michelle) Michalec, David Michalec, Donald Michalec and John Michalec (Stacy), all of Cedar Rapids; a daughter, Delores Zumwalt (Gary) of Sachse, Texas; eight grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Seven brothers and one sister preceded her in death.

Dorothy was a faithful member of St. Patrick's parish in Cedar Rapids for 51 years and a past member of St. Monica's Circle there. She worked in the St. Patrick's school cafeteria for 20 years. The St. Patrick's community, a central aspect of her life, offered her an important source of both spiritual and social comfort and support.

Dorothy loved to travel, and she loved family gatherings. She delighted in recounting the stories that have become the fabric of our family history. Dorothy lost all of her material possessions in the flood of 2008, but she leaves behind a rich legacy of oral family history, and memories of happy times spent with her. The memory of her quiet grace and good humor will sustain us all in the time we must now endure without her.

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