Dorothy J. Sokolowski (nee: Karecki), a lifelong Bayonne resident, entered into eternal rest peacefully at home on December 2, 2021.
Dottie’s humble beginning in life served as an inspiration to those around her. She was a gifted seamstress for the Harnick Neckware in Bayonne. She then applied her unique culinary skills to the Community Day Care Center in Bayonne where she worked for 10 years. Over the next several years she and her late husband, Edward worked diligently to build their catering business and, in the process, earned a reputation for their outstanding service and professionalism in the Bayonne area.
While Dottie's accomplishments in life were numerous, nothing could compare to the love and pride she had for her family and the joy it gave her to treat her grandchildren to vacations to Disneyworld where they all treasured spending quality time together.
Cooking and baking were a labor of love for Dottie. All who entered her home were treated with unending warmth and hospitality as she created special meals and hosted holidays and special events. She enjoyed growing up surrounded by singing and dancing which were a few of her many favorite pastimes. With a true zest for life, Dottie enjoyed roller skating in her younger years and enthusiastically worked as a swim instructor at the YMCA in Bayonne. She also had an impressive talent of diving off the high dive with the greatest of confidence.
Dottie’s legacy was her gift of kindness, generosity and wisdom, along with her belief in a strong work ethic. She will be sincerely missed by her loved ones and all who were privileged enough to know her.
Predeceased by her dearly beloved husband, Edward Sr., parents. Martin and Julia (Karecki) Sowinski, sisters, Regina Denny, Florence Sashnowski, and Helen Sabino, brothers, John, Martin, and Clem Karecki, son-in-law, George Morreale, and her grandson, Edward Sokolowski III.
Left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Joan Morreale, son, Edward Jr., grandchildren, Michael Morreale and wife Joanne, Lorin Morreale-Smith and husband Christopher, and Gabriel Sokolowski and wife Danielle, and eight great-grandchildren, Erica, Katie, Ava, Kylie, Evan, Joseph, Brandon and Katy.
A visitation will be held at the Dworzanski & Son Funeral Home on Sunday, December 5, from 4:00 to 8:00 pm. A funeral mass in Dottie’s honor will be offered on Monday, December 6, at 12:30 pm from the Parish of St. John Paul II at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, 39 East 22nd St., Bayonne, officiated by Rev. Lukasz Kleczka. Entombment will follow at the family crypt at Holy Cross Chapel Mausoleum in North Arlington, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to a charity of choice in memory of Dottie.