Dorothy G. Blaszczyk

Dorothy Blaszczyk, age 87, died peacefully at her home in Maple Shade, NJ on September 23, 2020.  She was reunited with the love of her life, her beloved Jerry (Gerard), husband of nearly 30 years who died in 1987. For the next 33 years Dot continued to spend her days living fully with a zest for life – lighting up rooms with her beautiful smile, bringing joy and humor to the world with a laugh that was contagious, and devoting time and endless energy to her children, grandchildren, and later her great-grandchildren.

She was born on July 6, 1933 to Peter and Sophia Szymanski in the Fishtown area of Philadelphia.  She attended Saint Laurentius Catholic Elementary School where she learned to speak Polish. She also was a faithful parishioner of Saint Laurentius R.C. Church where she displayed her lovely singing voice in the church choir attracting the attention of fellow choir member Jerry, her future husband. Dot was a proud 1950 graduate of Hallahan High School and a lifetime supporter of her alma mater.

After graduation, this stylish, bright, and professional lady worked in Center City as an administrative assistant. She held several jobs in her lifetime including teaching assistant at Berlin Community School, marketing assistant at Melitta Coffee, and appraisal administrator at Carroll-McIlhinney Appraisers. She also attended Camden County College maintaining an “A” average in her quest for an Associates degree.

After their marriage, Dot and Jerry settled in Berlin, NJ where they raised five children and met many friends attending Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church. After Jerry’s death, Dot moved to Tricia Meadows in Mount Laurel where she relished in her delightful home, sitting on her front porch enjoying her garden, riding her bike around the neighborhood, and going on elder hostel trips.  Her grandchildren knew her as Taczi from an old Polish song she would sing to them. She loved spending time at the clubhouse pool and playing a mean game of Connect-Four with them. Dot adored playing any kind of board or card games with family and instilled a competitive spirit in all her children.

Dorothy was so proud of her Polish heritage and enjoyed cooking Polish foods like Golumpki (stuffed cabbage) as well as other more typical American fare for her family including mouthwatering meatloaf, delectable hamburgers, and the best birthday dinner that the kids called “hard steak” – really sirloin steak with baked potatoes.  She hosted the most memorable and love-filled Christmas Eves where not only scrumptious dishes were on the menu but also the group reading of the touching book, “A Cup of Christmas Tea.”  

A voracious reader, Dot never missed a day going through the Courier Post and Philadelphia Inquirer from front to back. She enjoyed reading aloud every word of many interesting articles to her children and saving worthwhile and informative articles for grandkids to benefit from.

Dorothy will be missed by her children, Kathryn Blaszczyk (Fred Jurimas), Barbara (John) Ettore, Lynn (Dan) Petruzzelli, Mark Blaszczyk, and Brian (Carolyn) Blaszczyk; grandchildren, Erica (Chris) Romanos, Jaclyn (Ian) Mahoney, Eric Ettore, Laura (Louis) Stephenson, Brooke Petruzzelli, Nicholas Ettore, Garrett Petruzzelli, Matthew Blaszczyk, and Rebecca Blaszczyk; Great grandchildren Georgios and Andreas Romanos and Danielle Stephenson; her sister Geraldine O’Hanlon, and many treasured nieces, nephews and cousins. She is preceded in death by her husband, Gerard Blaszczyk, and parents, Peter and Sophia Szymanski.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation "JDRF”, P.O. Box 37920, Boone IA 50037-0920 or “John W Hallahan Catholic Girls' High School” Attn. Development Office, 311 N. 19th Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19103. And dear family and friends, perhaps today please practice a random act of kindness and lovingly think of Dorothy. 

Relatives and friends are invited to her viewing and visitation with her family on Wednesday evening, September 30, 2020, 5:30-7:30 pm at the MARK C. TILGHMAN FUNERAL HOME, 38 N. Forklanding Road, Maple Shade. Funeral service and eulogy will follow at 7:30 pm. Interment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery will be private. Social distancing will be in place, facial coverings are required, visitors are asked to please return to their cars after paying their respects.