Dorothy Paul Vatalaro

Dorothy Magdaline Vatalaro, beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother peacefully passed away in her sleep on February 22, 2026 in Magnolia, Texas, at the age of 98.

She was born on October 9, 1927, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Michael and Mary (Mandula) Paul. She was the third of seven children. She was affectionately known as Dot or Dottie. She spent her childhood years in Garfield Heights, Ohio, where she attended St.Therese Catholic School and graduated from Garfield Heights High School in 1945. Dot's father owned a grocery store where she and her siblings worked each day after high school classes and on Saturdays. After graduating high school Dot worked for a year at Dept of Navy in Cleveland to earn tuition funds for college. She graduated from Kent State University with a BS in education in 1950. She taught kindergarten through second grade and Special Ed during her career. She taught in Cleveland, South Euclid-Lyndhurst, Ohio, and Bartlesville, Oklahoma.

Dot met her husband of 50 years, Frank J. Vatalaro, while attending Kent State. They married in 1954 and lived in South Euclid and Lyndhurst, Ohio for 20 years where they raised their daughter Karen. They spent the next 20 years in Bartlesville, Oklahoma and then moved to Dallas,Texas, and Sugar Land,Texas, to be near their grandsons. She went to most of their sports activities and treasured their time together. Dot's grandsons lovingly called her Gap, as did many dear friends.

When Dot retired from teaching she filled her time volunteering at Birthright- a pro life ministry and Meals on Wheels for Seniors. She was always full of energy and loved sports. She played tennis until she was 80 and swam laps from May through September in Texas until she was 96. She loved Italian food, shrimp, chocolate and Moscato wine. She had a lifelong love of playing cards and board games. In her later years she played Rummikube as often as possible with family and friends. She especially liked playing games with her great grandchildren.

Dorothy was a loving and devoted wife, mother, sister, grandmother and friend. She always had a positive outlook on life. She was passionate about her Catholic faith and prayer life. She attended daily Mass when she retired from teaching. She had a strong devotion to Jesus and Mary and traveled to many religious sites such as Lourdes, Fatima, Knock, Medjugorje, Rome and Israel to learn more about her faith. She prayed 4 rosaries a day, one of which was always for her family's and friends' intentions. She was always ready and happy to pray for anyone's request. Her grandsons said her prayers had a straight and speedy line to heaven.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Frank Vatalaro, parents: Mike and Mary Paul, brothers: Leonard and Robert, sisters: Patricia Murphy and Mary Jo Stepanski. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law: Karen and Richard Coffman, grandsons: Christopher ( Erin), Patrick ( Andrea) and Scott ( Mariana) Coffman, eight great grandchildren: Paige, McKenna, Thomas, Luca, George, Elena, Jane and James; and sisters: Elizabeth May and Linda Pusateri.

A Rosary will be prayed at 10am on March 9, 2026 at St Mary Catholic Church 8227 County Road 205, Plantersville,Texas, to remember Dorothy's love and devotion of the Rosary. Immediately following the Rosary there will be a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 with Rev. Fr. Ed Kucera as the celebrant. Internment will be at 2 pm on March 10 at Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery 12800 Westheimer Rd, Houston,Texas, with Deacon Tom Ruck presiding.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to:

-the pro-life Gabriel Project at St Mary Catholic Church, County Road 205, Plantersville, Tx 77363;

-Archdiocese for Military Services PO Box 96168 Washington DC 20070

www.milarch.org ( which provides for the training and support of priests as chaplains at military bases and deployments)

-local Meals on Wheels