Helen J. Dorstewitz
June 30, 1939 - May 29, 2004
Helen Joyce (Areaux) Dorstewitz, 64, of Crossville, passed away May 29,
2004. To celebrate her life, a memorial service was conducted June 5 at
Adam's Funeral Home in Paw Paw, MI. A memorial service will be held at 11
a.m. Saturday, June 19 at the First United Methodist Church in Crossville.
At her request, she was cremated.
Mrs. Dorstewitz was born June 30, 1939 in Almena, MI, the daughter of Max
and Laura Areaux.
She grew up in Almena and attended Paw Paw High School, graduating in 1956.
She married William Dorstewitz on Nov. 28, 1958 in Paw Paw. They were
blessed with three adopted children, plus a South African exchange student
who also became part of the family.
Through the years she worked as a beautician, telephone answering service
secretary, and secretary for a private elementary school. Her favorite job
was raising her family and enjoying their growing up as well as the
children's many friends who frequented her home, many of whom have called
her "Mom" through the years.
She happily followed her husband's career to several different cities around
the country, always looking forward to the adventure. They ended up in
Kalamazoo, MI for the last 20 years of his career.
After Bill's retirement, they moved to Crossville in October 2001 where they
lived in an RV community which because their home base for many motorhome
trips.
Over the years she made many special friends. Her life was filled with
opportunities to be a friend, mentor, teacher and listener to people of all
ages. She eagerly responded to all of these opportunities, giving her all to
each one. She was a member of the United Methodist Church, serving on
various committees and teaching Sunday school at different times and places.
She was a member of the Red Hat Society and was an avid sports fan.
Survivors include her husband, William Dorstewitz; children and their
spouses, Todd and Alicia Dorstewitz and their children, Aric and Keely; Troy
and Gail Dorstewitz and their children, Adam and Lily; and Tracy Dorstewitz
and her son, Teryn, all of the Kalamazoo area, as well as Enrico and Dana
Marinus and his children, Liam and Niall, of Cape Town, South Africa.
Because of her special love of animals, she has requested that any memorials
in her name be given to Kalamazoo Animal Rescue or your local Humane
Society, or to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.
Obituary information provided by Bilbrey Funeral Home, Inc.