Dorothy M Kroll - Van Moffaert, age 90, passed away peacefully at the Oak Trace Retirement Home in Downers Grove, on November 25, 2022 after a brief but courageous battle with cancer. Dorothy was born on October 22, 1932 in Chicago to the late John and Eva Kroll. She graduated from Harrison High School and many years later, at the age of 87, decided to get married for the first time to Anthony (Spike) C. Van Moffaert, They were high school classmates living separate lives, but as Spike would say, he was very fortunate to have known her during their high school years.
She is survived by her loving husband Anthony (Spike) C. Van Moffaert.
Dorothy was a long time active church member of St. Joseph, Summit;
St Alphonsus, Lemont; and most recently a member of the Divine Savior Parish, Downers Grove. She was a devout Catholic all her life and served as an Extra Ordinary Eucharistic Minister. She knew the Lord and walked with Him faithfully till the end.
Dorothy grew up tested by the Great Depression and World War II. She loved to dance and at a young age volunteered as a USO hostess to dance with on-leave members of the U.S. armed forces. She worked hard during her career and after many years of employment, retired from the Electro-Motive Division, General Motors as a Corporate Buyer. In her later years of life, she invited Mom and Dad to live with her so she could care for them until the end. She was part of the Greatest Generation.
Dorothy enjoyed world travel and was able to visit places like India, Hong Kong, South America, much of Europe and many places within the United States , but her true love was ballroom dancing. It was a weekly affair for most of her life. She was known for telling people that she does a “mean Polka”. Love is a gift, and the gift of marriage came to Dorothy late in life when she married Anthony (Spike) Van Moffaet. Although it was a brief marriage (almost 4 years) she was extremely happy and said it was the greatest blessing of her life. Dorothy and Spike were truly soul mates. Two people perfectly suited to each other in temperament, who felt deeply
connected. They shared a bond that was deeper than words could ever explain. Dorothy is fondly remembered for her loving friendliness, humor, loyalty, honesty, generosity, and her ability to always have a good time.
Left to cherish Dorothy’s memory is her loving husband Anthony (Spike) Van Moffaert, brother Ray Kroll (Arlene), nieces; Linda Hale - Petrosky (Jimmy), Susan West (Dan), Janice Nader (Doug), nephew; Michael Kroll, the extended loving Van Moffaert, Bonistalli and Gorski families, and a very special life-long friend, Bernice Gorski. She will be greatly missed by her loving family and her many friends. The family wishes to acknowledge with sincere appreciation and gratitude all deeds of kindness and expressions of sympathy.
Visitation will be held on Saturday December 3, 2022 between 9:00 and 10:am at the Adolf Funeral Home 7000 S. Madison St., Willowbrock, IL, prior to a 10:30am Mass of Christian Burial at the Divine Savior Parish Catholic Church 6700 Main St., Downers Grove, IL. Interment will follow at Resurrection Cemetery 7201 Archer Rd. Justice, IL.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dorothy’s honor to the Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2211 N. Oak Park Ave., Chicago, IL 60707 Tel:773.622.5400. The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses, social workers, and many others in the palliative and hospice care unit at Oak Trace Health Center for their care of Dorothy during her short and devastating illness.
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