Dorothy Brooks Kaczmarek

Dorothy Brooks Kaczmarek, 93, South Scranton, died Thursday at VNA Hospice at Geisinger Community Medical Center. Her husband, Joseph R. Kaczmarek, died in December 1995.

Born in Scranton, daughter of the late Joseph and Sophia Novak Brooks, she was a loving wife, mother and grandmother who spent most of her life as a homemaker. She was a former member of St. John the Evangelist Church until its closing. She was now a member of St. Paul of the Cross Church and the Keyser Valley Senior Citizens.

Dorothy enjoyed the special times she spent with her cousins, Adeline and Butch Rama and their family. She was an excellent seamstress, and liked to crochet.

She also liked spending time with her friends and neighbors playing cards and games.

The family would like to especially thank Lori and Bill Schmidt for the loving care and kindness shown to their mother for the last four years. Dorothy spent the last five months at Mountain View Care Center and her daughters would like to express their sincere thanks to the nurses and staff for their care and concern.

Surviving are two daughters, Donita Straub and husband, Joseph, Milford, Conn.; and Debra Leeds, Laguna Hills, Calif.; three grandchildren, Shelley Schneider and husband, David, Milford, Conn.; Robert Straub and wife Kristi, Toms River, N.J.; and Jillian Leeds, Laguna, Calif.; four great-grandchildren, Victoria, Rachel, Nicholas and Daniel Straub; a brother, Robert Brooks, Silver Spring, Md.; nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. from the Leon S. Gorgol Funeral Home, 1131 Pittston Ave., Scranton, with Mass at 10 in St. Paul of the Cross Church. Interment, Sacred Hearts Cemetery.

Friends and family may call Monday from 4 to 7 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul of the Cross Church, 1217 Prospect Ave., Scranton, PA 18505; or the charity of the donor's choice.