Dorothea Jo Nabakowski

Dorothea Jo Nabakowski, nee Jurinec
March 19, 1942 – May 31, 2017
Dottie Nabakowski, friend to all creatures, great and small, two-legged or four, died following a 10-month illness surrounded by the family that she so loved. Best known for her love of animals & nature, she embraced the people she knew with a fierce and gentle love, listening, offering support, finding ways to help and always trying her best to live a life of kindness and compassion.
Over the years, Dottie found many ways to support her family, from driving a school bus for the YMCA, to working in the Lorain Auditor’s offices, from working as a lab tech in Amherst Hospital to, most recently working at Animal Clinic Northview where she loved being able to snuggle puppies at work – as part of her job!
She was the wind beneath the wings of her husband, Ronald Nabakowski senior, and supported his public service throughout their married life, serving as a delegate in the Democratic Convention that elected Jimmy Carter.
Dottie loved welcoming people to her Amherst home, happily sharing her chickens, ducks, horses, goats, cats, and a long list of assorted dogs (most especially collies) with anyone who stopped to visit. She made good friends while training her dogs in obedience and loved to take them on visits as therapy dogs. Her proudest accomplishment – after her family – was earning a CDX obedience title with her black Lab, Otis.
Her family will miss her strength, warmth, feistiness, unconditional love and the generosity of time and attention she gave to whoever needed it. She leaves six surviving children, Pamela Rumancik (Karen Mooney), Deanna Nabakowski (Robyn Copeck) Michael Bains, Lee Long (Pam Long) Robert Nabakowski (Carolyn) and Christopher Nabakowski (Andrea). She had seven grandchildren; Nicholas Rumancik, Genevieve Rumancik, Carolyn Rumancik, Jeffrey Nabakowski, Maya Nabakowski, Benjamin Long, & Isabelle Nabakowski. She also left behind Pistol, Andy, Max, Ben & Jerry, and two dozen chickens. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ronald Nabakowski, Sr. a daughter, Cynthia Ann, and her mother, Agnes Jurinec.
Friends may call from 3-8 PM, Friday, June 2, 2017, at Reidy-Scanlan-Giovannazzo Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 2150 Broadway Ave., Lorain.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, June 3, 2017 at 10:00 AM in St. Mary’s Church, 309 West 7th St. Lorain .  Fr. Divis will officiate.  Burial will be a later date.
Donations in her name can be made to Friendship Animal Protective League, 8303 Murray Ridge Rd. Elyria, Ohio 44035.  Online condolences and gifts of sympathy may be shared with the family by using www.rsgfuneralhome.com