Dorothy E. Skalla
Obituary's Biography:
Dorothy Elizabeth Skalla, formally of North Chicago, Waukegan and Grayslake, Illinois passed away February 2, 2013. Dorothy was born to Murray and Vida Bangs Dow on May 1st, 1917 in Xenia, Illinois. She grew up on a small family farm there and attended a one-room, country schoolhouse. Dorothy lost her mother at an early age and later lived with her aunt Mattie in Iowa for several years before moving to Highland Park where she worked as a nanny for the Le Vally family. Dorothy graduated from Highland Park High School, worked various clerical jobs and later worked for Douglas Aircraft (located at present-day O’Hare) during WWII where she was an original “Rosie the Riveter”. After the war she met her future husband, Edward, and they were married on July 24th, 1948. They settled in Waukegan and North Chicago where they raised their four children. Dorothy was especially active in her later years, golfing, playing bolina, bowling and singing alto in the Waukegan Symphony Chorus. The Christian faith was an important part of her life and she was a former member of Mother of God and Prince of Peace churches. She was a volunteer at Victory Hospital and also enjoyed her many functions with the Park Place Senior Center, Steelworkers Retirees Club and KSKJ St. Mary Lodge #79. Dorothy is survived by her children, Gregory (Tonia) Skalla of Wildwood IL, Donald Skalla of Williams Bay WI, and Mary-Jo (Gary) Loizzo of Grayslake IL; grandchildren David (Sheila) Shrofe and Nicole Loizzo; great-grandchildren Caitlin, Julia, and Patrick Shrofe; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceeded in death by her husband Edward and daughter Patricia (Wayne) Shrofe. She was also preceeded in death by all of her siblings: sister Helen Pearson, and brothers Harold, Duncan, Earl, Edwin and Russell Dow. A visitation is scheduled for Wednesday February 6, 2013 from 4:00pm until 8:00pm at Strang Funeral Chapel & Crematorium 410 E. Belvidere Rd. Grayslake, IL 60030. A funeral mass will be held on Thursday February 7, 2013 at 10:00am at St. Gilbert Catholic Church 301 E. Belvidere Rd. Grayslake, IL 60030. Interment will follow at Ascension Catholic Cemetery in Libertyville, IL. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Dorothy’s name to the charity of your choice. For more information please contact (847)223-8122 or log onto www.strangfuneral.org.
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I am sorry to hear of Dorothy’s passing. I sang in the Mother of God choir with her and always enjoyed hearing her beautiful alto/tenor voice. There was one song that we sang at Christmas where her voice was so beautiful that I always stopped singing just to listen to her. My mom, Maggie Pignaloni, also sang with her in the church choir as well as the Waukegan Symphony. Dorothy was always such a nice, kind person. I always enjoyed talking to her. My deepest sympathy to all of you. I will remember her in my prayers.