Dorthea Arndt

SISTER DORTHEA MARIE ARNDT, SND

Dag Hammarskjold wrote: "Each morning we must hold out the chalice of our being to receive, to carry, and to give back."

Dorthea Wanda Arndt received the gift of life on February 4, 1944, in Bellevue, Ohio. She gave her life of 82 years back to God in her 53rd year of religious profession on February 25, 2026, at Rosary Care Center in Sylvania.

Dorthea lived truthfully who she was in the freedom of a child of God, receiving the grace held out to her as she lived in a calm rhythm of ministry, community life, and spiritual depth. From childhood she was familiar with the Sisters of Notre Dame who taught at Immaculate Conception Parish. She entered the Notre Dame community in 1970 and received her education at Mary Manse College and Bowling Green State University. She taught grades 1 and 2 at St. John, Delphos; St. Joseph and Sacred Heart, Fremont; St. Mary and St. Paul, Norwalk; St. James, Toledo; and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Carmel, Indiana; and St. Joseph, Erie, and St. Anthony, Temperance, Michigan.

She held out "the chalice of her being" by remaining small so God could become large. She was known for paying attention to little things, the beauty and wonders of nature. God let her joy and easy laughter spill over to brighten the lives of hundreds of children. Her relational gifts made everyone feel at home. In 2019 Sister moved to Notre Dame Academy and in 2020 to the Sisters of Notre Dame Center to perform community service. Eventually physical concerns led to her residing at Rosary Care Center in 2023. Wherever she was, whatever her life held Sister Dorthea Marie evidenced the words of one of her favorite songs: "Give me nothing more than your love and grace. These alone, O God, are enough for me."

Preceding her in death were her parents Dwight and Marcella (Bartl) Arndt and brother Dwight. She is survived by her sister Dinah Miller. She will be greatly missed by the Sisters of Notre Dame and her family.

Services will be at the Sisters of Notre Dame Center at 5900 Davis Road, Whitehouse, OH on Monday, March 2 with Sharing of Memories at 2:00 followed by visitation time until the eulogy at 4:15 and Mass at 4:30. Burial will take place later. Arrangements are entrusted to the Urbanski Funeral Home, a Life Celebration Home, 5055 Secor Road, Toledo, OH. Any tributes may be made to the Sisters of Notre Dame at 1656 Henthorne Drive, Suite 200, Maumee, OH 43537.