Dorothy Thoresen (nee Zelinske)

July 19, 1914 - June 27, 2011

Dorothy Thoresen (nee Zelinske) entered into Eternal Life on June 27, 2011, at the age of 96. Greeted in heaven with hugs by her beloved husband of 67 years, Norman.

Dear mother of six children, Norman R., Jr. (Nora), Paul (Janice), Robert (Claudia), Betty (Gary) Bruhn, Joyce (Dana), and Thomas (Kim. Cherished grandmother of 18 and great grandmother of 41. Further survived by many relatives and dear friends.

Dorothy was born on July 19, 1914, in Redgranite. She graduated from high school as salutatorian and continued her education to become a teacher of a one room school for three years. Dorothy married her high school sweetheart, Norman, on Nov. 26, 1936. They spent their first three years together working at a resort during winters in Florida, then a summer resort in Wisconsin. While raising their family in Wisconsin, Dorothy went back to her love of teaching at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Waukesha for 15 years. During eight of those years, Dorothy and Norman served as foster parents for several hundred children in Waukesha. Upon retirement, they wintered in Port Charlotte, Fla., and spent summers in Wisconsin. Dorothy’s love was shown in many ways, but especially with her hugs, and by saying, "Jesus in me loves you. We share the love of Jesus." Dorothy was blessed by the care she was given at St. Camillus Hospice and responded with those loving hugs.

Dorothy’s memorial Mass will be at 10: 30 a.m., July 23, 2011, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Waukesha, 225 S. Hartwell Avenue. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Vincent de Paul or charity of your choice. For further information, please call Randle-Dable Funeral, Cremation and Preplanning Services at 547-4035 or go to www.waukeshafunerals.com to leave the family an online tribute.