Dorothy A. Klobucher Gorup
Dorothy A. Klobucher Gorup, known affectionately by her family as “Do Do,” was born November 14, 1924, in Strabane, one of six children of George and Mary Zigon Klobucher.
Mrs. Gorup attended Alexander Grade School in Strabane and worked at Canonsburg Pottery for many years.
On November 19, 1956, she married the love of her life, Frank “Squirrel” Gorup Jr., in St. Patrick’s Church in Canonsburg, where she attended faithfully when well. Although she and her husband never had children, she poured her life into the hearts of her sisters and brothers and then helped shape the lives of her nieces and nephews. This responsibility of matriarch of the family she accepted unconditionally but always warned her brothers and sisters, “Whatever you do, don’t embarrass the family.”
Dorothy was a member of SNPJ Lodge 138 of Strabane and AFU Lodge 149. In her spare time, Dorothy shared her time and efforts by donating baked goods to the Slovenian Radio Hour Annual Picnic, St. Patrick’s Church Festival and numerous SNPJ Youth Circle 19 events. Her specialties were baking apple strudel, potice (Slovenian nut rolls), pizzelles, chocolate chip cookies, Texas sheet cakes and a variety of delicious cookies that graced the “cookie tables” at family events.
As her brothers and sisters married and nieces and nephews were born, “Do Do” came alive with the heart of a loving sister and aunt. Along with her husband, she created amazing memories for their loved ones expressing her love through her passion for cooking “Chicken Soup.” Even though she was a Strabane resident for three decades, her heart was planted in her home in Shouptown, a part of Strabane where she was born and raised.
Deceased, in addition to her parents, are her brothers, William and George, who died at 11 months old.
Along with a thousand loving memories to be cherished by everyone, Dorothy leaves her faithful husband of 64 years, Frank; her cherished sister-in-law, Kathryn (the late William) Klobucher of Pittsburgh; brother Edward (Lila) of Hazel Park, Mich.; and sisters Josephine (George) Mikitin of Cecil Township, Mary Jane (William) Prost II of North Strabane Township,and Agnes (Edward) Engel of North Strabane Township, whose lives she impacted over the years.
With the passing of time, Dorothy reached out to touch the lives and hearts of her nieces and nephews, William (Kathy) Klobucher, June (Robert) Bernard, Kathy Klobucher, Edward (Diane) Klobucher, Scott (Lia) Klobucher, Larry (late Janice) Johnson, Patricia Mikitin, Barbara Mikitin, William (late Worth) Prost, Peggy (Steve) McMahan, Beth Ann (Ed) Manning, Edward Engel, Allison (Gregory) Thompson and Michael (Erin) McMahan. Her love continued with the most recent additions to the family, her great-nieces and nephews, Emily and John Manning, Maxwell and Ian Thompson, and Caroline McMahan, who brought her many smiles and love while she resided at the Greenery Health Center and at Townview for more than four years.
While residing in a nursing home, Dorothy cherished the care she received from the nurses, aides and hospice who were drawn to her genuine spirit of love, appreciation and witty humor, warmed by her twinkling eyes and beautiful smile.
Her family says, “Dorothy, thank you for leaving us your legacy of love. We promise to carry it on!”
Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday in Salandra Funeral and Cremation Services Inc., Joseph P. Salandra, LFD, owner/supervisor, Darla A. Tripoli, LFD, 304 West Pike Street, Canonsburg, A celebration of Dorothy’s life and a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 8:45 a.m. Friday, July 7, in Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church, Muse. Those attending are asked to be at the funeral home by 8 a.m. Interment will follow at 10 a.m. in National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, Cecil Township.
To view or extend condolences, visit www.salandrafunerals.com
For those wanting to honor Dorothy, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Slovenian Radio Hour, 851 F Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15209, or a charity of one’s choice.