Dorothy Mary (Wheeler) Lis

Dorothy Mary Wheeler Lis left this earthly journey for eternal reward on March, 11th. There to welcome her were her always remembered family and friends... her husband of almost 40 years, Marion S. Lis; parents, Madelyn (Maude) Whalen Wheeler and Mortimer Sanders Wheeler; her siblings, Vieana Wheeler Floyd, Walter Wheeler (Sophia), Lloyd Wheeler (Mildred), James Wheeler (Beverly) and Mortimer Wheeler; brothers-in-law, Stanley Lis, Claude Zuchowski, Richard Jachinowski, and Michael Boyda; great-grandson, Lee Botka; niece, Claudia Zuchowski Swierczek; lifelong friends, Betty and Lou Fassola; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Surviving are many beloved family members... her daughters and sons-in-law, Judith Lis Botka (Lynn),  Cynthia Lis Barnes (Gary) whom she lived with for over 20 years, and Barbara Lis Bracken (Bill); grandchildren, Thomas Botka (Lori),Timothy Botka (Amy), Jason Botka (Jennifer), Jennifer Barnes Bohlman (Zach), Adam Tadej (Tami), Heather Tadej Kennedy (Shane); great-grandchildren, Keegan Botka, Kameron Botka, Konnor Botka, Kolby Botka, Mary Botka, Reese Botka, Tessa Botka, Graci Botka, Joseph Bohlman, Elijah Bohlman, Noah Bohlman, Samuel Bohlman, Austin Tadej, Ariana Tadej, Gabriel Kennedy, Isaac Kennedy, Eian Kennedy; sisters-in-law Casmira Lis Zuchowski, Helen Lis Jachninowski, Evelyn Lis Boyda; nieces and nephews, some of whom knew her as beloved Aunt Chickie,  Brian Floyd, Shari Floyd, Jim Wheeler (MaryKay), Nicole Wheeler Strle (Ray), Jan Wheeler Vargo (Tim), Craig Wheeler, Kirk Wheeler, Remle Wheeler, Joseph Jachinowski (Suzanne), Patricia Jachinowski Riegel (Tom), Paula Zuchowski Leonard (Larry), Marcella Boyda Todd (Wayne), Michael Boyda, Martin Boyda, Steve Swierczek; nieces by friendship Mickey Fassola Klement (Steve) and Laurie Fassola Stahl (Ken); and many other relatives and friends

In their early married years, Dorothy and her husband, Marion, were very active at St. Mary's Carmelite Church along with their best friends, Betty and Lou Fassola. Dorothy was always a prayerful person and she got older the list of those she prayed for was long. In these latest years, you could go into her room an hour after she went to bed to check on her and she was still praying for all those she loved so dearly and for the world and its cares.

Dorothy and her friend Betty started a ladies group called the G-B-ettes. It began with a group of friends that worked at Gerlach-Barklow in Joliet and expanded to other friends over the years. The ladies met monthly for decades and then kept in touch through phone calls and greeting cards when many of them could no longer get out and about.

Crocheting and sewing stood out among Dorothy's many talents. She was like a machine as she crocheted a multitude of items from the loveliest baby afghans to holiday dolls, creating her own patterns, all while visiting or watching TV.

Dorothy was an attentive and loving mother, wife, sister, and friend. While she called herself a homebody as that is where is liked to be most of all, she was a successful career person working in offices for Caterpillar, Electromotive, and E.J.&E. Railroad. She was a lightening swift key-puncher and excellent trainer for new employees. She didn't travel a lot but enjoyed short road trips with her husband and daughters to Tennessee and in later years with her daughters to Wisconsin, Ohio, New York; and yearly trips to Las Vegas to see her sister and her children.

Most of all, Dorothy will be remembered by all for her love and kindness to everyone, for putting everyone else before herself. She never missed sending greeting cards to everyone she knew and shopping for gifts for everyone she knew. She was always attentive to everyone else's interests and concerns, was the best at listening and comforting, had a smile, a kiss, a hug and a prayer for all.  94 glorious years! How blessed were we to have her to enjoy for so long.

A celebration of Dorothy’s life will begin on Saturday, March 16, 2019 with prayers in the funeral home chapel at 10:20 a.m. then driving in procession to the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus for a Mass of Christian Burial to be held at 11:00 a.m. Interment to follow at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Joliet. Visitation will be on Friday, March 15, 2019 at Tezak Funeral Home, 1211 Plainfield Road, Joliet from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.