Obituaries

Obituary: Dorothy Elizabeth Skalla

Services have been scheduled for Dorothy Elizabeth Skalla.

Dorothy Elizabeth Skalla, formally of North Chicago, Waukegan and Grayslake, Illinois passed away Feb. 2, 2013.

Dorothy was born to Murray and Vida Bangs Dow on May 1, 1917 in Xenia, Illinois. She grew up on a small family farm there and attended a one-room, country schoolhouse. Dorothy lost her mother at an early age and later lived with her aunt Mattie in Iowa for several years before moving to Highland Park where she worked as a nanny for the Le Vally family. Dorothy graduated from Highland Park High School, worked various clerical jobs and later worked for Douglas Aircraft (located at present-day O’Hare) during WWII where she was an original “Rosie the Riveter.”

After the war she met her future husband, Edward, and they were married on July 24, 1948.  They settled in Waukegan and North Chicago where they raised their four children. Dorothy was especially active in her later years, golfing, playing bolina, bowling and singing alto in the Waukegan Symphony Chorus. The Christian faith was an important part of her life and she was a former member of Mother of God and Prince of Peace churches.  She was a volunteer at Victory Hospital and also enjoyed her many functions with the Park Place Senior Center, Steelworkers Retirees Club and KSKJ St. Mary Lodge #79.

Find out what's happening in Grayslakewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Dorothy is survived by her children, Gregory (Tonia) Skalla of Wildwood IL, Donald Skalla of Williams Bay WI, and Mary-Jo (Gary) Loizzo of Grayslake IL; grandchildren David (Sheila) Shrofe and Nicole Loizzo; great-grandchildren Caitlin, Julia, and Patrick Shrofe; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceeded in death by her husband Edward and daughter Patricia (Wayne) Shrofe. She was also preceeded in death by all of her siblings: sister Helen Pearson, and brothers Harold, Duncan, Earl, Edwin and Russell Dow.

A visitation is scheduled for Wednesday Feb. 6, 2013 from 4 until 8 p.m. at Strang Funeral Chapel & Crematorium 410 E. Belvidere Road Grayslake, IL 60030. A funeral mass will be held on Thursday Feb. 7, 2013 at 10 a.m. at St. Gilbert Catholic Church 301 E. Belvidere Road Grayslake, IL 60030. Interment will follow at Ascension Catholic Cemetery in Libertyville, IL. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Dorothy’s name to the charity of your choice.  For more information please contact (847)223-8122 or log onto www.strangfuneral.org.

Find out what's happening in Grayslakewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

—Strang Funeral Chapel provided this information.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here