Dorothy Helen Zovnic

Dorothy Helen (Niven) Zovnic age 91 passed away Dec. 13. 2018, at Allouez Parkside Village. She was born on Nov.15, 1927, to the late William and Mary (Ovans) Niven of Dunbar, Wis., the youngest daughter she grew up on the family dairy farm with her four brothers and one sister. She graduated from Pembine High School May 22, 1945. She then moved to Milwaukee to work as a secretary for Globe. Dorothy met the love of her life, Stephen Zovnic, a WWII Veteran and student at Marquette University. They were married Aug. 13, 1949 at St. John’s Cathedral in Milwaukee. They moved to DePere where Stephen set up his dental practice and they raised their six children. Steve and Dorothy were married for 56 years until Stephen passed away in 2005.

Dorothy loved homemaking, especially baking cookies with the help of her many grandchildren and great grandchildren. She loved the outdoors, playing golf and walking, she was also an avid bowler, but she loved flower gardening and taught us well.

Survivors include her children, Mary Zovnic, Appleton; Margaret (Herman) Ward, Waukesha; Katherine (Lawrence) Nowakowski, Port Washington; Ann (James) Milson, Green Bay; John (Kris) Zovnic, De Pere; and Andrew (Heather) Zovnic, Green Bay; her grandchildren, Aaron (Kim) Shryock, Neal Shryock, Jessica (Richard) White, Alice Ward, Helen (Tom) Ward-Schaber, Samuel (Sadi) Ward, Collin Zovnic, Jordyn Zovnic, Stephen Zovnic and Anthony Zovnic and great-grandchildren, Rose, Quinn, Gavin, Olive, Miles, Brenna, Fitzwilliam and Henry. Dorothy is further survived by her sister-in-law, Emily (Frank) Matusin, nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.

Preceding her in death are her parents, her husband, Stephen J. Zovnic, DDS, brothers; Gordon (Violet “Wilma”) Niven, David (Alice) Niven and Hugh (Edna) Niven, sister, Marjorie (Francis “Red”) Nerbun and Donald Niven.

Family and friends may gather at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 220 S. Michigan Street, De Pere on Saturday, December 22, from 9 a.m. to 10:45 a.m., with a Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 11:00 a.m. with Fr. Richard Getchel officiating. Inurnment will take place at Greenwood Cemetery in the spring. Cotter Funeral and Cremation Care is assisting the family.

The family would like to thank the Allouez Parkside Village staff and Heartland Hospice for the care given to Dorothy.

It broke our hearts to lose you but you didn’t go alone, part of us will always be with you as God has called you home.