Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to most all of the photos displayed in this post. The photos are scanned reproductions and credit to professional portraits are given where known. Obituary written by Jeri Misler.
In Loving Memory of Dorothy Hullinger Liszcz
1930 - 2020
Dorothy Marie Hullinger Liszcz, 90, of Robeson Township, Mohnton, passed away peacefully on Easter Sunday, April 12, at Mifflin Center Memory Support facility, Shillington, PA. She was born February 1, 1930 in Reading, PA to Mary Helen and Leon Hullinger.
Dorothy graduated from St. Peter’s Catholic School in Reading. After graduation, she worked for many years as an administrative assistant at Luden’s factory before she was married in 1952 to Walter R. Liszcz.
Service was the hallmark of Dorothy’s life. She spent her life giving generously of her time. She was committed to visiting friends and family, volunteering, and creating a warm and loving home for her four children. Placing others needs above her own came naturally to Dorothy, a committed, lifelong blood donor and community volunteer.
Along with her predeceased husband, Walter, she served as an active member of the Church of St. Benedict RCC, Mohnton, for over 60 years. Dorothy joined the church’s Women’s Auxiliary, the “Prime-Timers” group, and was a loyal volunteer for the church’s annual Chicken BBQ. A prized baker, Dorothy’s coconut cakes and award-winning apple pies were sought after, and fought over, by festival regulars. She spent days leading up to the event helping friends and family members make chicken soup and polish perogies, both popular sellouts by noon on festival days.
A fan of travel, Dorothy enjoyed bus trips with the church’s senior group, week-long road trips to girlfriend’s cabins to play cards, and visits to see her daughter and granddaughters in Maine, Virginia and even Alaska. She enjoyed several cruises, and was a lifelong lover of warm beaches.
Dorothy valued friendships and worked hard to maintain them with generous and thoughtful acts of kindness. Her many friends included co-workers from the school cafeteria kitchens of Robeson Elementary and Twin Valley Elementary Center, former classmates, and close friends from St. Benedict’s Church. Her commitment to her family was equally as strong as she enjoyed close relationships with her six siblings and their families all the years of her life.
Dorothy is survived by her three sons, Jeffrey, Brian and Kurt, all of Mohnton, daughter, Jeri of Winterport, ME, daughters-in-law JoAnne and Barbara, and son-in-law, Scott, plus seven granddaughters: Chelsea, Lauren, Tien, Daija, Zara, Alanna and Emilia. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews including Linda, Dennis and Eddie Liszcz, and good friends who are like family, Jeannie and Bill Hauck, MaryAnne Kremp and Jackie and Kevin Kremp.
She is predeceased by her husband of more than 50 years, Walter Liszcz, and sisters, Elizabeth Wisniewski and Evelyn Gavin, and brothers, Leon Jr. Leonard, Donald, Richard, and Joseph Hullinger.
Special memories from family members:
My mother-in-law expressed her love freely through cooking. On our visits, she would always have one of my favorites ready upon arrival. While Easter raisin bread, kielbasa, or perogies were always enjoyed, her apple pie was best. She made this on most visits and I shamelessly competed with my children for seconds. We always ate pie while watching the birds, petting Lacey, and hearing all about the family
happenings since our last visit. I loved those times. — Scott Misler
Special memories from family members:
Grandmom always loved to take me on walks as a child. We would sit on a big rock on the farm, that she called the "wishing rock". She reminded me to make a wish every time. I will never forget that memory! I used to wish she could see Pop-Pop again. — Lauren Liszcz
When thinking about grandmom, I always think of the mornings in which we would spend in her kitchen eating her famous raisin bread. She would always make it special for us when we would visit, and always made sure there was plenty. We would all sit around the round table in the kitchen, sitting and chatting and eating raisin bread. — Daija Misler
When I think of Grandmom Dorothy, I think of her strength. The way she would kiss your cheek hard when she hadn’t seen you in a while; like she was trying to soak up all those moments in between in one quick, hard kiss. Or her grip on my shoulders as she would smile at me before pulling me in for a tight squeeze. She lived her life with passion and you could feel it being released from her hands and fingers and arms in those moments. The tightness, the emotion in her face and hands, the happiness. She made every small moment count up to some of the biggest moments of the day. — Chelsea Simmers
More memories to share:
My memory is stopping in to see her on a Sunday, at the end of the day, and as we waited for Jeff to join us, we would have a drink together. She was always happy to say "yes" to even a glass of white wine! Jeff would mix her something a bit stronger when he arrived. — JoAnne Liszcz
I became a mixologist over the week ends when I would make mom, two versions of martini's. Then the stories came out. Loved them. — Jeff Liszcz
As a kid, on Sunday nights, Mom made the best chicken pot pie for our supper. Afterwards, I remember, we would gather around the TV to watch Walt Disney and eat ice cream sundaes with sprinkles and whipped cream. On snow days, when we are off of school, she would tell Jeff and I to walk out to the barn and get some eggs and she’d make whatever kind of eggs we wanted. On cold days we always had cream of wheat with cinnamon, sugar and butter and we felt so warm. I can remember taking mom to mass after dad passed away. I was truly blessed to have a mother and a father that made life special.
Mom had a way of making everyone feel loved. — Brian Liszcz
Mom was my number one fan throughout my little league days thru my high school years playing sports. She’d give the umpires a hard time if they gave a bad call when I was at the plate. She would say, “That’s not a strike! That ball could’ve tied his shoelaces!” She always made my birthday special by making my favorite, apple pie. I’ve never had an apple pie as amazing as hers, and I’ve tried many.
She made life sweet and special. I love you, Mom. — Kurt Liszcz
Birthdays were always important to mom. She worked to make each of our birthdays special. My 13th birthday will always stand out since she decided we needed to have a square dance in the barn, with a real “caller,” bbq , hotdogs and all the fixings. I got to invite my friends and we had a great time
learning to “do-si-do” and “swing our partners.” To this day, I am not sure how she convinced Dad
to clean out the barn so we could have a square dance!
She must have had to do some sweet talking for that to have been approved! — Jeri Misler
My own reflections:
My beautiful Mom-in-love, Dorothy, taught me so much about family; how traditions are a bedrock of building family life, stability for children and the meaning of sacrifice for others. When I met my husband, Kurt, I fell head-over-heels, but I didn’t know he was “the one” until I met his parents. Through their steadfast example of love and commitment to family and faith, my missing pieces fell into place and I was home.
I only wish I could have adopted her cooking and baking skills!
We are all blessed for having had such a beloved mother/grandmother in our lives. She's reunited with her husband of more than 50 years, her parents and siblings in heaven now. We all agree that she had a front row Easter celebration full of amazing grace and love! It has helped us with our grief knowing there were beautiful reunions of the people we love most in this world.
— With the greatest admiration, your daughter-in-love, Barbara
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Interment will be at Robeson Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery, Plowville for immediate family, Friday, April 17. In lieu of flowers, remembrances in Dorothy’s name may be made to the Church of St. Benedict, 2020 Chestnut Hill Road, Mohnton, PA. 19540.
We will celebrate Dorothy’s life with a public mass at at future date.
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