Dorothy Sopchak

1923 - 2016

Dorothy Sopchak

AGE: 92 • Milltown

Dorothy Sopchak, 92, of Milltown died Wednesday, April 20, 2016 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick, after a beautiful Christian life devoted to her family, friends, and the public and following courageous battles against multiple medical afflictions over the course of many years.

Born September 25, 1923 in Philadelphia, Dorothy grew up in Manville, NJ. Dorothy, whose name comes from the Greek "Gift of God," was a lifelong parishioner of the Orthodox Church of America. After marriage, she became a 60 years long resident of Milltown and communicant of SS Peter & Paul Church, South River, a parish of the Orthodox Church of America (OCA).

Dorothy graduated from Bound Brook High School in 1941 and then became a patriotic part of the war effort as a kind of "Rosie the Riveter," helping assemble engine parts for US warplanes at the Diehl Corporation. In November, 1951 she married the first true love of her life, John A. Sopchak, a graduate of Columbia University in the city of New York as well as a graduate of St. Vladimir's Seminary. Dorothy then devoted her life to what she regarded as her two greatest accomplishments in life, raising and guiding and always "being there" for her two adoring sons, John L. Sopchak, in whose Orthodontics office she was office manager for some 20 years, and James A. Sopchak, who became a clinical psychologist with the help of Dorothy's encouragement and constant unconditional love and maintains a private practice in Milltown.

Dorothy was predeceased in 1998 by her beloved husband, John A. Sopchak, and in 2008 by her first-born son, John L. Sopchak. She is survived by her son and primary caregiver in recent years, James A. Sopchak of Milltown, her incredibly-devoted nephew, Professor Roger Shutack of Annandale, NJ and many nieces and nephews.

Friends and relatives are invited to the Rezem Funeral Home, 457 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick to pay their respects from 2-4 & 7-9 PM on Sunday, April 24th. A Requiem Service with the church choir will also be offered on Sunday at 2PM at the funeral home with the Very Reverend David F. Garretson of SS Peter & Paul Church, South River, serving. A Funeral Service will be served on Monday, April 25 at 10:00 AM at SS Peter & Paul Church, 76 Whitehead Avenue, South River with interment following at the church's cemetery.

Donations in Dorothy's memory may be made to SS Peter & Paul Church. Alternatively, random acts of kindness performed in Dorothy's memory would be a welcome tribute to this strong but gentle, loving, unassuming soul. For online condolences to the family, visit www.rezemfh.com.