Sister Dorothy Dolak, SCN
February 18, 1944 - August 31, 2024
Visitation: Friday, September 6th at 8:30AM, St. Louise Convent Chapel, 8200 McKnight Rd., Pgh, PA 15237, (Please enter through garden door after parking)
Service: Friday, September 6th at 11AM, St. Louise Convent Chapel, 8200 McKnight Rd., Pgh, PA 15237, (Please enter through garden door after parking)
Sister Dorothy Dolak, a Sister of Charity of Nazareth, was called to her heavenly home on Saturday, August 31, 2024 at the age of 80 and in the 60th year of her professed religious life at Vincentian Home after a brief illness.
Dorothy was born on February 18, 1944 in Donora, PA to Stephen and Margaret (Simonik) Dolak. She was the middle child of three daughters. She was pre-deceased by her parents and her older sister Margie and is survived by her younger sister Cindy.
Dorothy entered the Vincentian Sisters of Charity (VSC) as a candidate from St. Dominic’s Parish, Donora PA, in the Diocese of Pittsburgh on September 8, 1961 and made her perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1964. In 2008, she transferred her vows when the Vincentian Sisters of Charity merged with the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth.
Sister Dorothy’s dream was fulfilled when she began teaching in 1964. She had a Bachelor of Science in Education from LaRoche College and a Master of Arts in teaching with an administration certification from Duquesne University.
From 1964-1976, she taught in many grade schools throughout the dioceses of Pittsburgh and Greensburg. She also taught at Vincentian high school for a year and then went to Mobile, Alabama where she began her career as a principal for a year. Sister Dorothy returned to the Vincentian Sisters’ motherhouse and served at many grade schools as principal throughout the Pittsburgh area.
When her parents were both battling cancer at the same time, the Vincentian Sisters gave her a leave of absence to care for them. Her father died in 1989 and when her mother passed in November of 1990, she took a new professional direction. She attended classes at Scranton University and became a licensed nursing home administrator. The community assigned her to work as Administrator at Regency Nursing Home for eleven years.
Sister Dorothy worked at Saint Vincent de Paul Society for a short while until health issues forced her to leave. When she returned to work, she became principal at St. Sebastian School for three years. Afterwards, she would work with the frail elderly at Comfort Keepers. In 2008, she became motherhouse coordinator at Saint Louise until after the merger with the SCN community. In August of 2009, she accepted the principal position at Christ the Divine Teacher Catholic Academy in Aspinwall, PA where she ministered for 5 years.
Retiring from full-time ministry in 2014, she took on a variety of volunteer jobs including: tutoring for the Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council; part-time cemetery associate for the Diocese of Pittsburgh; a volunteer driver for her sisters and Light of Life Mission Food Bank worker until she suffered a fall sending her to Vincentian Home.
She is survived by her remaining sister as well as her religious community, the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth.
Funeral and burial arrangements are as follows:
• Viewing at St. Louise Convent Chapel on Friday, September 6, 2024 beginning at 8:30 AM at 8200 McKnight Road, Pittsburgh PA 15237 (please enter by the garden door after parking)
• The Funeral Mass will begin at 11:00 AM
• Burial to follow in the Sisters’ Cemetery
Memorials may be made to the Office of Mission Advancement; P.O. Box 9; Nazareth, Kentucky 40048.
I had the pleasure of not only getting to know, sister Dorothy, but adopting her is one of my closest dear friend. She have sought a loving personal. I was one of her students the adult literacy program and not only did she turn my life around she became a part of my life, I will truly miss her. Your favorite student Selene i am definitely going to miss you.
I was privileged to have her as principal at Clairton Central Catholic (St. Clare of Assisi). She was tough but very nice. She cared very much about all our students and her staff. She is part of my memories and am happy I knew her.
i remember Sister Dorothy’s smile as in her photo. Being from her home parish, I commend her for doing the Lord’s work so faithfully and know she will be truly rewarded.
Sr. Dorothy rises to become the star that all her friends already knew her to be. I am confident of her prayers even as I remember her gratefully at Holy Mass. “You have been a faithful and industrial servant, welcome to your sabbath rest!”