Submitted by: Dan Rich

Dorothy Jane Botka

Jan. 21, 1925 - Feb. 14, 2006

South Bend Tribune 2/15/2006

Dorothy Jane "Dottie" Botka, 81, of South Bend, passed away on Tuesday, February 14, 2006, in her home. Dottie was born on January 21, 1925, in South Bend, to the late Edmund and Frances (Szynski) Rybicki, and was a lifelong area resident.

On September 21, 1942, as Dorothy Jane Rybicki, she married Raymond B. Botka, who preceded her in death on January 25, 1992. Along with her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her son, David W. Botka, on September 2, 1988. Dottie is survived by her daughter, Patricia A. Botka DuShane (and her husband Eric) of South Bend; her three sisters, Hilda Governale of Tucson, Arizona, and Patricia Kaczynski and Jolant Prawat, both of South Bend; and by several nieces and nephews.

Dottie was a manager for Sears before retiring in 1980 after 23 years of service. She was a parishioner of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, South Bend, where she belonged to the Altar and Rosary Society and the Senior Retirees Club.

Visitation for Dottie will be from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 PM Thursday, February 16, 2006, in the Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Drive, South Bend, where a parish Rosary will be recited at 3:30 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 AM Friday, February 17, 2006, in St. John the Baptist Church, with entombment to follow at St. Joseph Resurrection Gardens. Memorial contributions may be made to The Center For Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., 111 Sunnybrook Court, South Bend, IN 46637.