Submitted by: Dan Rich

South Bend Tribune 6/7/2004

Dorothy J. Arelt

Aug. 20, 1920 -- June 5, 2004

A golden chariot accompanied with white stallions from the four corners of the earth carried the soul of Dorothy J. Arelt, a good and faithful servant, through the Pearly Gates into the waiting arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to spend eternity in Paradise.

Dorothy was born Aug. 20, 1920, in South Bend, Ind., to John and Caroline (Bruner) Gresk, who are now deceased. On May 7, 1942, Dorothy married Ray Donovan in the log cabin at Notre Dame University. From that union twins were born, Patricia and Michael. Dorothy and Ray parted ways in 1977. On Aug. 27, 1980, Dorothy married Daniel K. Arelt in South Carolina. Daniel preceded her in death on Sept. 18, 2003. Also preceding her in death is her son, Michael Donovan on Feb. 16, 2001 and two brothers have also passed.

She is survived by her daughter, Patricia Noffsinger (Miles Lockwitz) of South Bend; two grandchildren, Tina Noffsinger-O'Brien (Donald) of South Bend and Harold (Kathy) Noffsinger of Marion, Ind.; and three great-grandchildren, Kaylee, Marcie and Amiela Persinger, all of Marion, Ind.; and one sister, Kathryn (Bernie) Peczkowski of Three Rivers, Mich.

Dorothy lived in the South Bend area most of her life. In 1995, she and her husband moved to Harlingen, Texas, to live in a retirement community. She was a member of the Little Flower Catholic Church, Good Sams Camp Group and the Presbyterian Players. She graduated from South Bend Central High School in 1939. She was a substitute teacher in area schools for gifted children. Dorothy was also a Holy Eucharistic Minister. She also loved to paint and when she wasn't doing that, she and Dan went camping, they traveled all around.

I would like to give a special thanks to her granddaughter, Tina, for giving her all the love and care that she needed. Thank you to her grandson, Harold, for making one of her last days out possible. Thank you to Cardinal Nursing Home for giving her all the care she needed. A special thanks to Trish, she made her last few days comfortable and easy.

Mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, we will all love and miss you very much.

Visitation will be in THE ST. JOSEPH FUNERAL HOME, 1827 E. Ireland Road, from 2 until 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 8, and one hour prior to services in the church.

Funeral services will be Wednesday, June 9, at 10 a.m. in Little Flower Catholic Church with the Rev. Andre Leveille, CSC, officiating. Burial will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Osceola, Ind.

Contributions may be made to the charity of one's choice.