Dorothy Reder

We are so very grateful to God, who entrusted us into the care of the most wonderfully witty, hilarious, patient, intelligent, and creative mother - Dorothy Victoria (Klosowski) Reder. God and our dad called her home on March 25th, the Feast of the Annunciation. We will miss her but we are so happy that she is with her family in heaven.   Our mom was born on February 28, 1928 on the south side of Bay City to Roman and Victoria (Potla) Klosowski. After graduating from Central High School, mom attended Mercy School of Nursing in Grand Rapids. She was a Registered Nurse. To further her experience, she trained in the mental health field in New York, where Ernest Hemingway was a patient. On a windy Saturday, May 6, 1950, mom married the love of her life, Albin (Ben) Reder. Together they had thirteen children. Surviving are: Sue and Lee Shinkel, Ken and Magaly Reder, Don Reder, Vicki Scheddel, Jane and Mark Grzegorczyk, John and Laurie Reder, Judy and Ken Kram, Mary and Chuck Baumer, Chuck and Marty Reder, Tim and Denee' Reder, Laurie and Bob Gunther and her son in law and daughter in law, John and Tammy Penkala and close family friend Jolee. They raised their family on a small farm on Midland Road. When mum was a young mother, she lost both of her parents.   She was asked to care for her little seven-year-old sister, Alice, whom she loved and embraced as her own child. Alice and David Courtney survive her along with a brother Jim and Betty Klosowski. Surviving brothers in law and sisters in law are Albert Schrader, Phil Savaglio, Agnes Reder, Eva Reder and many nieces and nephews.
Mom's children are most grateful to their parents for instilling in them a value for hard work and play, imagination, humor, and most especially a trust, faith, love, devotion and a dedication to Jesus Christ, the Roman Catholic Church and the Blessed Virgin Mary, praying a daily rosary; leading us home one day to God, our Father.
Our mom made all our work fun. She really knew how to make us laugh. She loved each and every one unconditionally and completely. She was a woman of strength, patience, and contentment; never really wanting anything other than what she already had in her life. Mom and dad were glued at the hip; always together. After dad retired from maintenance at St. Vincent de Paul Parish, they worked together there - at the church - each part time. They were quite inseparable. Where one was, the other was sure to be. They were the best examples of equal partners and parents that anyone could ever hope for. We were very blessed and are grateful.
Dad died on December 8th, 2012, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and was buried on December 12th, the Feast of our Lady of Guadalupe, leaving mom with a huge void. Luckily before his passing, Dad gave mom his support in getting a little dog, Mitsy, who became mum's little companion.
Mom and dad had forty-seven grandchildren and sixty-two great-grandchildren. She was so proud of each birth, knowing life is a precious gift from God. Sadly, passing before her, along with her parents, was her husband, her first grandchild, Bethany Jo, her daughter, Lisa, her son, Bob, her son-in-law, Gary, dad parent's John and Elizabeth Reder, brother Al and Jeanie Klosowski, a brother Roman Klosowski, her brother's and sister's in law - dad's sister, Agnes Reder, Ed and Dorothy Reder, Julie and Jake Reder, Tony Reder, Bernadine Schrader and Grace Savaglio.
Our family would like to express our gratitude to the parish of St. Catherine for their love and support, Fr. John Sarge, Fr. Jose Cabrera and Fr. Bob Kelm. To Mclaren Bay Region Hospital and Mclaren Hospice for their conscientious, compassionate and dedicated service and care - thank you. We'd also like to thank Sister Jean, our hospital chaplain, for her work and prayerful support. To Fr. John Schultz, thank you for your impromptu visits over the last forty-five years to dad and mom. To all the priests mom and dad worked with over the years - know that they loved you as their own.
Visitation will be at 10:00am on Wednesday, March 28th, 2018 at St. Catherine of Siena with Fr. John Sarge celebrating the Mass of Christian Burial 11:00 am when mom's living eleven will cover her one last time with a white garment representing her baptism into Christ's death and resurrection. Mom's will be buried next to dad at St. Anthony Cemetery. All those wishing to express sympathy in the form of a memorial are asked to consider St. Catherine of Siena Development Fund. Thank you everyone for being a part of our mother's life. We will love you and miss you forever mom. We are looking forward to seeing you again. Keep that porch light on! Love you mom!