Obituaries & Guestbook

Dolores Burzinski (Sertich), age 94, of Sheboygan died peacefully in her sleep on December 6, 2020 from complications related to the COVID-19 virus. Dolores was born on October 29, 1926 in Pence, Wisconsin. She was the only child of Louis and Mary Sertich. Dolores graduated from Montreal (WI) high school in 1944 after which she attended the Vogue Art School in Chicago where she studied painting and ceramic arts.
In 1951, Dolores married Frank Burzinski of Montreal WI. Frank died in 1991.
Dolores was a long-time resident of Sheboygan. She worked as an admitting clerk for St. Nicholas Hospital for 23 years. Upon retirement, she worked for Walmart Stores as a customer greeter for 12 years. She was a parishioner at St Peter Claver Catholic Church.
Dolores was a performer in several community players musical productions and worked backstage creating scenery. In addition, she delivered meals-on-wheels to the elderly, read to elementary school children weekly, and worked at local area food pantries. She was proud of the fact that she never missed a chance to vote.
Dolores had a wonderful singing voice. She would often sing while working around the house or while tending to her garden. She shared her love of music with her children. She had a large (and very heavy) collection of jazz and pop 78s from the 1940s and 50s. Dolores loved movies – comedies and musicals were her favorites but she would go to see almost anything that wasn’t science fiction. She was always up for a play or concert and attended several Broadway plays during trips to Chicago and New York City. Until her eyesight began to fail, she made regular bus trips to area casinos where she played the penny slots. She also took yearly trips to Las Vegas with her lady friends. Just don’t ask her to play bingo! In 1996, she won the weekly Wisconsin Lottery Jackpot on live television.
Dolores was a talented amateur artist and crafter working in a variety of media including painting, needle work, and ceramics. Many of her paintings and crafts can be found in the homes of her children and grandchildren. Her artistic talents, like her love of music, have been passed down to her children. She was an avid reader making weekly trips to the Mead Public Library and local bookstores to pick up the latest mystery or biography. She often gave books as gifts. Dolores was a crossword puzzle fanatic completing multiple puzzles each week.
Dolores loved celebrations and holidays, particularly Christmas. Her crazy dollar store grab bags were a highpoint of family Christmases for decades. You could always count on getting a card (often with a little cash tucked inside) or special gift on your birthday or other occasion. She was a generous person within her means, contributing to many local and national charities.
Dolores is survived by her children: Thomas (Elaine) Burzinski of Green Bay; Nancy (Jerry) Johnson of New York City; Susan (Jerry) Holfeltz of Sheboygan; Carol (Hillis) Beck of Charlottesville, VA; Eileen (Lee) Sorenson of Sheboygan; Marcia (Bryan) Naab of Madison; and Mark (Amy) Burzinski of Fulshear, TX. She is preceded in death by two sons-in-law: Jerry Holfeltz and Jerry Johnson. Dolores is also survived by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and by her many friends from her days at St. Nicholas Hospital and by her neighbors at the Mapledale Senior Apartments.

Dolores’s children wish to thank the caregivers at Pine Haven Christian Communities and the Sharon Richardson Community Hospice for the compassionate care they provided to our mother. We request that you make a memorial donation in Dolores’s name to one of these organizations in lieu of flowers.

A family only graveside interment will be held on December 10th at Holy Cross Cemetery in Sheboygan. A fuller celebration of Dolores’s life will take place mid-2021.