Dolores Loretta Klimkowski

KLIMKOWSKI, Dolores Loretta (Ptasinska), age 91, of Dayton, passed away with her husband by her side on Monday, January 4, 2021. Dolores was born on February 4, 1929 in Chicago, IL to the late Antonina Duszynska and Kasimier Michael Ptasinski. She was the youngest sibling and last survivor from a family of 8 brothers and sisters including Ann, Rose, Estelle, Pearl, Ed, Leo, and Joseph.

Dolores is survived by her college sweetheart and husband of 70 years, Robert J Klimkowski; children, Mark (Beverly), Doriane, Roberta (Paul), Paul (Chris) and Jim (Mary Beth);grandchildren, Brad, Jeff, Amy, Eric, Angela, Nicole, Nick, Allison and Luke; great-grandchildren, Atlas, Holland, Maddie, Emmit, Brody and Mason.

Dolores or as the grandkids called her “Grandma DOUGH” was a devout catholic. She was her high school class valedictorian and went on to be an English literature major and graduate of DePaul University. Dolores delayed finishing school and stayed at home to raise her first child (Mark) while her husband got his degree. She then went back and finished her degree.

Dolores never learned how to drive but she got everywhere she needed to be. She once saw a UFO and convinced many of this that this is a fact. Especially as she aged, Dolores was outspoken. She had a strong opinion, often not mainstream, about most controversial topics and shared it aggressively if challenged. Dolores enjoyed her iPad because she loved cross word puzzles, but she quickly boycotted ‘Words with Friends’ because it allowed several words that she considered slang because they weren’t in the Webster dictionary.

She was a “worry wort” and she loved to read, especially mysteries. Dolores loved polish food, Chicago hot dogs and pizza, and classical music and opera, she was the lead soprano in the choir at church (often considered the only good singer in the Klimkowski family). She was a gentle teacher to her children, and nurturing to her beloved poodle, Toby who got three home cooked meals a day for 15+ years.

Dolores was bilingual and often spoke polish with her husband when they wanted to discuss something they didn’t want their children to hear. She was so loved and is already missed very much, but her children all promise to be home ‘when the streetlights come on’.

She would have been 92 years old in February 2021. Dolores spent her last 4 ½ years in a nursing home and my father visited her every day. Despite Covid-19, in her last few days, many of her family members were able to visit her one at a time in the nursing home.

A Private Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00AM on Saturday, January 9 at Incarnation Catholic Church, 55 Williamsburg Ln, Centerville. Live stream of services will be available at https://www.incarnation-parish.com/.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to EWTN, https://www.ewtn.com/.

Burial in Calvary Cemetery.

A special thank you to Father Pat (from Incarnation) for dropping everything to provide last rights. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.routsong.com.