Obituaries

Dorothy A.  (Ortz) Minich, lovingly known as Nanny to those who loved her most, lived a life filled with family, friendship, kindness, and a genuine love for people. She passed on Sunday September 6, 2026, at 11:40 pm in her home, Sunday being a day of faith, worship and rest. Sundays were her favorite day.

Dorothy never met a stranger. She had a way of introducing herself to anyone and everyone, striking up conversations and making friends wherever life took her. She loved meeting new people and had a personality that made others feel welcome. Her name and her life will be remembered not only by her family, but by the many people who were fortunate enough to cross her path and become her friends.
Dorothy was born March 9,1931 she married Robert Minich on August 1, 1950. She always shared the story of how they met on August 1st two years prior so they got married exactly to the day on a Tuesday.

Dorothy worked for many years at the Jensen Rola Plant until her retirement. Retirement, however, did not mean slowing down for Dorothy. She continued giving her time to others, volunteering for many years cooking and serving at the Hawthorn Fire Hall. She also volunteered at the Valley Thrift store for many years and was a member of the Eastern Star.

She enjoyed the simple things in life and the things she could create with her own hands. Dorothy loved cooking, quilting, and sewing. She was also known for making Easter eggs and other delicious chocolates for those she loved.

Some of her favorite things were much simpler than anyone could imagine. She loved “the white pizza” from Pizza Hut, and she enjoyed going for ice cream or as she called it “a custard” in Distant and Widnoon.

Above everything else, Dorothy loved her family deeply. Her heart was broken when she lost her beloved husband, Robert Minich, after 58 years of marriage. She also endured the unimaginable loss of her sons, David in 2023 and Danny in 2024. She often said that you aren’t supposed to have to bury your children before you, and those losses were ones she carried in her heart.

Dorothy is survived by her grandchildren, Robert Minich of Distant; Kelly Smith (David Rupp) of Distant; and Jason Rimer (Marlene) of New Bethlehem; step-grandchildren, Tammy Allenbaugh (Zachary) and James Allenbaugh, both of New Bethlehem; and great-grandchildren, Sara, CJ, and Carson of Distant, and Alyiah (Biana), Jerome, and DJ of New Bethlehem and Nikki and Romaine in Jamaica. She is also survived by a former daughter-in-law Kathy Bowser of Climax, former grandson-in-law Carl “Skeeter” Smith and many nieces, nephews, and numerous other family members and friends.

She also shared part of her home with Shawna and Dawson, who lived above her, and their dog, Pugsley, whom Dorothy considered to be her own dog and them her family.

Dorothy came from a large family. At the young age of one, she lost her mother, Eula. Her father, David Ortz, later remarried Phyllis, and between the two families Dorothy was one of sixteen brothers and sisters.

She is survived by her sisters, Hope Shuster and Joyce Foster, (who lovingly cared for Dorothy during her later years, taking her to appointments and helping her with whatever she needed; and her brothers, Paul Ortz, Raymond Ortz, Kent Ortz, and Mike Ortz.

In addition to her husband, Robert, and her sons, David (Mabel) and Danny (Cecy), Dorothy was preceded in death by her sisters, Lawaive  Gerano and Florence Austin; and her brothers, Gary Ortz, Clifford Ortz, Terry Ortz, Merle Ortz, Blair Ortz, Bernard Ortz, and Jerry “Jake” Ortz.

Dorothy leaves behind a lifetime of memories of meals shared, chocolates made, quilts and sewing projects, trips for pizza and ice cream, conversations with strangers who quickly became friends, and most importantly, the love she gave so freely to her family.

She was known as Dorothy to many, but to her grandchildren she was simply Nanny. Her absence will leave an emptiness that cannot be filled, but her life, her stories, her laughter, and the love she gave will continue to live on in the hearts of all who knew her.

Dorothy never needed a special occasion to make a friend. She simply opened her heart, introduced herself, and made room for another person in her life. That is how she lived, and that is how she will be remembered.

Visitation will be held on September 9, 2026, from 1 to 6 p.m. at the Alcorn Funeral Home in Hawthorn. Funeral services will follow at 6 p.m. at the funeral home with Pastor James Dietrich officiating.

Interment will take place in Hawthorn Cemetery.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.alcornfuneralhome.com.