Florence Dolores "Doss" Dezelon

Florence Dolores “Doss” Dezelon (née Kindzera) April 10, 1932 – May 26, 2025 Florence Dolores Dezelon, known to most as “Doss,” died peacefully at the age of 93 at Ohman Family Living at Briar in Middlefield, Ohio. She was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, to Michael and Anna (Barlak) Kindzera. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles “Chick” Dezelon, as well as by her parents and sisters Mary Pauline, Dorothy Seigh, and Helen Sherbinski. She is survived by her daughter, Lynn Dezelon (Paula); her loving companion of 25 years, William “Bill” Bartos; and several nieces and nephews, including her godsons Ken and Ray, and Linda and Carol, for whom she held a special place in her heart. Growing up in the shadow of the Great Depression, Doss often shared memories of moonshine-making in the basement, sock-hop dances, and rumble-seat rides. She married Chick on June 27, 1953, and they were together for 39 years until his death in 1992. A 67-year member of Loyalite Lodge 158 of SNPJ, Doss embraced life with joy and humor. She and Chick spent summers at campgrounds, danced to countless polkas, and bowled with friends in local leagues. Doss loved hosting large Christmas parties and weekend summer pool gatherings—always filled with too much food, bonfires, bocce ball, button box jam sessions in the barn and late- night games of pinochle. Doss enjoyed sewing, crocheting, quilting, wallpapering and utilized what she learned from Slovenian cooking school to master the delicate stretching of strudel dough and the making of traditional family dishes. She helped split firewood, tended her garden and enjoyed her evening bike rides. She also loved bingo, toting her bag of multi-colored daubers to churches and community centers, and made regular trips to Las Vegas. Despite the odds, Doss somehow always ended up with trays full of silver dollars and quarters. During the COVID lockdown, when she could no longer visit casinos, her family delivered a genuine Double Diamond slot machine to her living room, which she happily played for hours at a time. She cherished time with her sisters, visiting them whenever possible—though sometimes those reunions took place in Las Vegas rather than their hometowns. Doss worked as a secretary at General Motors’ Trim Shop for over a decade before stepping away to raise her daughter. She later returned to work briefly at McDonald’s, then as a lunch lady for Mentor Public Schools, and finally as a cashier at Medic Drug Store, where she remained for 15 years. She also dedicated countless hours to her daughter’s school community—as a room mother, Girl Scout leader, hallway ice cream seller and chauffer for Lynn to sports or band practice. In later years, she found love again with Bill, her devoted companion of 25 years. Together, they attended Slovenian button box concerts, traveled (yes, including more Vegas trips), tackled home projects, and even took to the skies—Doss logged 10 hours of flight time in Bill’s plane, learning the basics of flight. He remained by her side throughout her final months. The family offers heartfelt thanks to the staff at MetroHealth’s MICU - Step Down Unit, Ohman Family Living at Briar and the wonderful aides from Cherished Companions. Special thanks to Drs. Michael Harrington, Ziad Shaman, William Lewis and Matthew Pawlicki for their extraordinary care and compassion. Deep appreciation also goes to MetroHealth’s therapy dogs—especially Auggie--whose visits brought her joy. Doss frequently looked at his and the other therapy dogs’ photos that hung on her wall, smiling. The daily routine: while fist-bumping her daughter Lynn, they would both say, “Good night, Auggie,” and each morning Doss would report that he had watched over her. Want to honor Doss? Call your mother and let her talk your ear off—about anything. Record it. If she’s not around, ask someone who knew her to tell their stories about her. Record that, too. One day, those recordings will mean more than you can imagine. In addition to changing the lives of everyone she met while alive, Doss was able to impact one more even in death. With 5 years left on her pacemaker battery, soon someone else will gain extra time with their loved ones through www.Myheartyourheart.org. Donations in Florence’s memory may be made to: Loving Paws Therapy Dogs, c/o MetroHealth Foundation, PO Box 74107, Cleveland, OH 44194 or to Guiding Eyes for the Blind, 611 Granite Springs Road, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598, donate online at www.guidingeyes.org or to Make-A-Wish Ohio, donate online at www.wish.org. The family will receive friends from 2-5 p.m. Sunday, June 1, 2025 at the Brunner Sanden Deitrick Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 8466 Mentor Ave., Mentor, OH 44060. A mass of Christian burial will be held 10 a.m. Monday, June 2, 2025 at St. Mary of the Assumption Church, 8560 Mentor Ave., Mentor, OH 44060 (please meet at the church). Interment will be in All Souls Cemetery, Chardon. Please offer condolences at www.brunners.com. Good night, Auggie.

Florence Dolores "Doss" Dezelon

April 10, 1932 - May 26, 2025