Dorothy J. Brunecz

She was born Oct. 16, 1930 in Cleveland, Ohio, a daughter of the late Joseph and Alice Sajatovic Zivich.

Dorothy was raised and educated in Cleveland, graduating from St. Paul’s Croatian Catholic School in 1949. In January of 1956, she and her family moved to Sugar Grove, Pa., where they owned and operated the Sugar Grove Hotel until 1970. They then owned and operated Brunecz Evergreen Plantation from 1970 until 2004.

Her family was very important to her, she loved to brag to everyone about having five generations. Dorothy was a kind and loving women, she had a large extended family and she was known as grandma Brunecz by many.

Dorothy was a member of St. Thomas the Apostle Roman Catholic Church in Corry, Pa. She enjoyed gardening, playing cards, especially pinochle. She especially loved being a great- great-grandmother and also enjoyed listing and dancing to polka music with little Hunter.

In addition to her parents, Dorothy was preceded in death on May 5, 2004 by her husband of 52 years, Peter P. Brunecz, whom she married Oct. 20, 1951, in Cleveland, Ohio; two sisters: Alice Knapick and Rose Keenan; and two brothers: Paul and William Zivich.

Dorothy is survived by a daughter, Loretta Messinger of Sugar Grove, Pa.; two sons: Peter Brunecz and his wife, Margaret of Blythewood, S.C., and William Brunecz and his wife, Shirley of Bear Lake, Pa.; a sister, Violet Pisano; and a brother, John Zivich and his wife, Elsie all of Willowick, Ohio

Also surviving are four grandchildren: Michelle Lanphere (Brian), Jason Messinger (April), Jeremy Messinger (Terri) and Christina Brunecz; two step-grandchildren: Daniel and Dustin McFarlane; seven great-grandchildren: Shaun, Bradley, Brianna Lanphere, Alea and Seren Messinger and Seth and Reagan Messinger; one great-great-grandson, Hunter Lanphere; and many nieces and nephews.

Family and friends may call at St. Thomas the Apostle Roman Catholic Church, 203 W. Washington St., Corry, Pa., on Wednesday from 10 a.m. until the time of the funeral Mass there at noon. The Rev. D.G. Davis III will officiate. Burial will be in St. Elizabeth Cemetery, Corry, Pa.

Funeral arrangements are under the care of the Bracken Funeral Home, 315 N. Center St., Corry, PA 16407.

To sign the guest book or send condolences, please visit www.brackenfh.com.