Dorothy A (Okoniewski) Blaschke

Dorothy Ann Blaschke passed away on August 13, 2018, on her 95th birthday. Dorothy was born in Chester, PA and grew up in Wilmington, DE. She inspired her 11 siblings with her appreciation of all things beautiful: her faith in God, classical music and art. She graduated from St. Hedwig’s, St. Paul's commercial and Wilmington high school.

Early on she found employment with Allen J. Henry Co., and then the Dravo Shipbuilding Co. During World War II became a Red Cross volunteer and then a nurse’s aid. She found her true calling when she joined the Cadet Nurse Corp., training at St. Joseph's Hospital in Reading, PA. After graduation she took a job in Tomah, Wisconsin at the Veterans Hospital, where she met Fran, who became her husband.

Dorothy worked in nursing almost all her life, in hospitals, private offices and finally as the Occupational Health Nurse in the Wilmington Federal Building. She retired from nursing in 1987.

She was a true Angel of Mercy, always giving and ready to help family and friends who were sick or infirm. She reached out to them with a gentle and quiet manner, comforting and praying for them. Her home was always open to those in need.

She also loved and excelled at baking pies and cakes and blueberry torte, growing orchids and gardening, appreciating classical music, and dancing the polka and waltzes.

She is survived by her husband for 69 years, Francis A. Blaschke of Wilmington, DE, 2 sons; Mark Blaschke of Wilmington, DE and Francis Blaschke of Boston, MA, a brother; Albin Okoniewski of Wilmington, DE and 4 sisters; Sr. Latitia and Sr. DeLourdes, both of Reading, PA, Elizabeth Barczewswki of Wilmington, DE and Leona Papagno of Elkton, MD and numerous nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. Dorothy was predeceased by her daughter, Bernadette Blaschke, her brothers, Lawrence, William, Francis & Edward Okoniewski and by her sisters, Carolyn Wells & Florence Okoniewski.

A Memorial Mass will be held on Tuesday, August 21, 2018 at 11am in St. Elizabeth Church, Cedar and Clayton Streets, Wilmington, DE. The family will greet guests in Church starting at 10am. Burial will follow, the next day, August 22, 2018 at 11am in the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Bear, DE.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions, be made in Dorothy’s name, to St. Elizabeth Church or to the St. Elizabeth School Fund Program both at, 809 S. Broom Street, Wilmington, DE. 19805.

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