Dorothy Anna Golata

Dorothy Anna (Cook) Golata Lansing Dorothy Anna (Cook) Golata, 89, passed away on August 6, 2010 in her home under the care of her daughters with family and friends present. She was born July 16, 1921 on a farm near Pewamo, MI, to Dora (Wohlscheid) and Oscar Cook. She was fourth oldest in a family of 13 children, all of amazing strength and vitality. She earned her teaching certificate at Central MI Univ., taught one year in a rural school, then moved to Lansing. While working at Nash-Kelvinator, Dorothy met John Golata and they were married in 1943. They celebrated their 62nd anniversary before John died in 2006. Her passion for music and education led her to provide their five daughters with music, art, and dance lessons, and to encourage them to participate in local performances, youth talent competitions and MSU science and music institutes. She was an active member of Resurrection Church and later of St. John's Student Parish. She was a Girl Scout leader, a reading tutor at Lansing Catholic Central, taught religion to teenagers through Resurrection's CCD program, and volunteered over 30 years for St. Lawrence Hospital's gift shop as floral and toy buyer. John and Dorothy square-danced, cross-country skied, golfed, bowled and enjoyed the cottage they built near Gladwin and their winters in Florida. Dorothy loved dancing, playing piano, family sing-a-longs, playing cards, traveling, reading, crossword puzzles, and swimming. Her love of nature she attributed to her mother, Dora. She loved talking to everyone she met. Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, John (January 23, 2006); parents; four sisters, one brother and four brothers-in-law. She is survived by her five daughters and sons-in-law: Patricia (John) Doherty, Mary Jane (Ernie Bryson) Golata, Marcia (Bill Grant) Golata, Debra (Jon Harris) Golata, Tess (Doug) Boone; six granddaughters: Sherri, Annemarie, Jennifer, Nancy, Morgan and Kelly; seven great-grandchildren; siblings: Ella Thelen, Marcia Cook, James (Jean) Cook, Donald (Barb) Cook, Roy (Dee) Cook, Jenny (R.J. Weber) Trier, and Leon (Jeanne) Cook; sister-in-law: Mary Romak; 51 nieces and nephews; and honorary family members, Holly Andrews and Nick Mang. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated Saturday, August 28, 10:30 a.m. at St. John's Student Parish, 327 M.A.C Ave., East Lansing, MI. 48823 In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to Advent House Ministries, 743 N. Martin Luther King Blvd. Lansing, MI 48915, 517-485-4722 Thank you to family and friends and to Sparrow hospice for support in Mom's care. The family is being served by the Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, Lansing.