Obituary: Dorothy Moilanen

Family and Friends on Dorothy Moilanen please join us for a “Celebration of Life” in memory of Dorothy on Tuesday, July 2nd at the First United Methodist Church, 401 Quincy St., Hancock, MI.  The Reverend Scott Lindenberg will be officiating.  Visitation is from 10:00 to 11:00 am, service at 11:00 am with a luncheon to follow in Fellowship Hall.  Please consider bringing a favorite story or memory to share.

The O’Neill-Dennis Funeral Home of Hancock is assisting with the arrangements.

Dorothy (Odgers) Moilanen passed away quietly in the early morning of December 9, 2018 while living in Venice Florida. She had celebrated her 94th Birthday on Thanksgiving Day!

Dorothy was the last surviving of ten children born to William and Mary Jane Odgers. Dorothy was born in Chassell, Michigan on November 22, 1924. She moved with her parents to Mason Location at age 4 and lived in the same Quincy Mining Company house for 79 years prior to moving in 2007 to an independent living facility in Appleton, WI to be near her daughter Linda who was residing in Appleton at that time. In 2018 she expressed her desire to move to Florida to follow and be near her daughter Linda K. (Mike) Heisler, North Port, FL and her son Edward A. (Joyce) Moilanen of Bradenton, FL.

Dorothy was preceded in death (1998) by her husband of 53 years, Edward L. Moilanen. She is survived by her son Edward A. (Joyce) Moilanen, daughter Linda K. (Mike) Heisler, four grandchildren, Eric E. Moilanen, Ida, MI, Matthew K. Moilanen (Amy), Grand Rapids, MI, Nicholas R. Stage (Megan), Minneapolis, Minnesota and Jennie L. Vechart (Mason), Appleton, Wisconsin and numerous Nieces and Nephews.

Dorothy loved her family and readily participated in activities with her children throughout the year. She was a long time member of the Lake Linden United Methodist Church (choir member and director) and current member of the Hancock First United Methodist Church. Dorothy, like several of her brothers and sisters, was musically talented and was a noted piano player and singer as she entertained for birthday parties, etc. at the Houghton County Medical Care Facility in Hancock, Randall Court Apartments in Appleton, WI and in her most recent residence in Manor Care, Venice, FL. She loved the outdoors, fishing and boating in the U.P. and in recent years boating and fishing while visiting with her son and grandson (Eric) in Florida. Dorothy was an avid gardener and until her passing kept tabs, both in person and by telephone, on her raspberry patch behind the Mason house. The family home is currently owned and maintained by her daughter and son-in-law and welcomes many friends and relatives during the summer months.

At Dorothy’s request her remains were cremated. A Memorial Service is scheduled for July 2, 2019 at the Hancock First United Methodist Church. The O’Neill-Dennis Funeral Home of Hancock is assisting with arrangements. The family wishes to thank the O’Neill-Dennis Funeral Home personnel for their professional and caring service during this time of loss and remembrance. Please visit the funeral home web site for further information or to leave a condolence at www.oneilldennisfh.com.

Dorothy loved poetry and has a scrapbook filled with a lifetime collection of her favorite pieces. This piece she shared with her daughter many times and carried it in her wallet:

“Square your shoulders to the world; be not the kind to quit. It’s not the load that breaks you down, it’s the way you carry it.”

Love and miss you so very much………..Your Family