Dorothy J. Mihalick

Dorothy J. Mihalick age 91 of Wickliffe, died Wednesday, December 9, 2020, at her daughter’s residence in Mentor. She was born June 10, 1929, in Dunlo, PA. Our beloved mother, Dorothy was a strong resilient woman who instilled those same values in her four daughters, which she raised by herself due to the untimely death of her beloved husband Lt. Col. James J. Mihalick. He was killed in a U.S. Air Force accident at the age of 39. After losing the love of her life, Dorothy persevered through the challenges of raising a family on her own. She was the matriarch of our family blending care, compassion with high expectations of those around her. She was meticulous in all she did and found great joy working in her yard. She was always dressed to perfection. Along with being a dedicated homemaker, Dorothy worked 26 years at Higbee’s. As a family tradition, she loved to bake nut bread, Kolaczki cookies, stuffed cabbage, and make her famous cheese ball for our family gatherings. Her favorite things were walking on the beach on a quiet evening and listening to Polka music. Dorothy valued her family with unconditional love. The excitement and challenges of an Air Force life coupled with the many years as a single mother built the strong resilient woman we loved. Coffee and long conversations in the kitchen will be missed. We will miss her laugh, her hugs, her passion for the Cleveland Indians, especially Omar Vizquel and Jason Kipnis. We will miss “Mother”, our pillar of strength, the heart of our family. Survivors include her daughters: Francie (Ed) Pauline, Susan Needham, Loretta (Kerry) Keipert, and Dorothy (Gary) Cantrell, grandchildren: Eddie (Lindsey) Pauline, Jason (Kathleen) Pauline, John and Rebecca Needham, Elyse (Al) Nystrom, Joseph (Lydia) Keipert, Jared (Melanie) Keipert, James (Stephanie) Cantrell and Jeremy (Fiancee: Miranda Patton) Cantrell, 7 great-grandchildren: Edward, Charles, Estella, Ronen, Gunnar, Reese and Declan, siblings: Mary Jane Dennis, Patrick, Bernard Edward, Francis, and Dennis Grattan . Preceding Dorothy in death are her husband: Lt. Col. James J. Mihalick, parents: Lawrence and Frances Grattan, and sisters: Alda Kovalsky and Caroline Rachel. A funeral mass will be 1:30 pm Monday, December 14, 2020, at St. John Vianney Church, 7575 Bellflower Rd. Mentor, OH. 44060. Masks are required and social distancing is encouraged during all publicly attended events. Interment will be in All Souls Cemetery, Chardon, OH. Arrangements entrusted to Brunner Sanden Deitrick Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Mentor, OH. In Lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105, or to the Wounded Warrior Project, 4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300, Jacksonville, Florida 32256. Offer condolences at www.brunners.com.

Dorothy J. Mihalick

June 10, 1929 - December 9, 2020