Dorothy Josephine Sivavec
1930 – 2024
Dorothy Josephine Sivavec, daughter of Anna Kmet of Strabane, PA, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, September 21, 2024. She was born on March 2, 1930, grew up in Strabane, graduated as the Salutatorian of her 1947 Canonsburg High School graduating class, and attended Duff’s Business Institute. She worked as a secretary at the Pennsylvania Transformer in the 1950’s.
Dorothy met Bernard Sivavec at a Slovenian polka dance in Strabane and they married in 1950. They built their house in McMurray, PA where they raised three children. Dorothy enjoyed sewing, crafting, decorating, cooking, and baking and as her yearbook description says, “she did everything well!”. She loved trying new recipes and sharing them with her friends and family.
Dorothy and Bernie loved traveling to their favorite golf resorts and had memorable trips to Slovenia and Hawaii. They also enjoyed traveling for visits and holidays with their children and grandchildren.
As the heart of her family, Dorothy had a quiet strength. She was a devoted, supportive, and loving wife, mother and grandmother. Always a dog lover, she had special bonds with her “Mickey”, “Tessie”, and “Cooper”. In her later years, her three grandsons were always a great source of pride and joy. She was a much loved grandma.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband Bernard and survived by their children Kevin Sivavec, Glastonbury, CT; Timothy Sivavec (Vincenzo Bumbalo), Clifton Park, NY; Diane Sivavec (Mark McFeeters) Ewing, NJ; and grandsons Tyler Sivavec, CT; Jacob Sivavec, CT; and Nicholas McFeeters, NJ.
She will always be in the hearts of her family and friends and will be greatly missed.
Private interment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, McMurray, PA
My mother Dorothy was a member of the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority in the Washington, Pa area. She had close bonds with her cherished lifelong sorority sisters and they shared lots of joy and laughter together.
Diane, Kevin and Tim,
I was so saddened to read of your mother’s passing. She was truly a lovely lady and great friend. She and your father were one of the first people that I met when I married Bill and moved to Canonsburg. Bill enjoyed working at RCA with Bernie and loved playing golf with him! Through sorority, my friendship with your mother grew and I recall many delicious luncheon meetings in their lovely home. I still have some of her recipes in my recipe box. And, yes, we had so many laughs with those sorority sisters! Unfortunately, there are only two of us remaining now. I will always remember and cherish the time we spent together. Please know how proud your parents were of you and your families and that they loved you dearly.
In sincere sympathy, Dottie