Dorothy H. Pries

Dorothy H. Pries (nee Valek) age 86 longtime resident of Chicago Heights, Illinois, passed away on March 23, 2023.  Born on July 4, 1936, to the late Joseph and Helen (Pisut) Valek in Joliet, Illinois.  Loving wife of over 66 years to Donn R.; Beloved Mother to Nancy (Alan) Rafferty, Gregory (Thomas Chelius) Pries, Karen (Mike) Brackin, Gary (Lynn) Pries, Kevin (Dana) Pries, Laura (Tom) Erickson and Mark (Vicki) Pries.  Beautiful Grandmother to Sarah, Anna, Megan, Danny, Catie, Kevin, Angela, Grace, Scott, Annabelle.  Cherished Great-Grandmother to Jade, Madelyn, Audrey, Hailey, Riley, Sylvia, Alyse, Dominic, Giuliana, Hudson, Kacee.  Survived by sister-in-law Loretta Valek and many fond nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by her dear eleven siblings: Edward (Marie), Jerry (Jean), Agnes (Larry) McKeon, Joseph (Alice), Jim (Lois), Marsha (Frank) Doyle, Tom (Amy), John, Catherine, Helen and Margaret.

Dorothy attended St. Francis High School in Joliet where she was a member of the Glee Club. She was proud of her Slovak ancestry and her family enjoyed the traditional ethnic dishes she lovingly cooked and recipes she passed down with joy.  She had the most adorable infectious laugh and loved playing games including cards, scrabble and doing jigsaw puzzles. Her summer flower gardens were a labor of love and brought her much pleasure – a greener thumb there never was! Dorothy was a devout Catholic and a founding member of St. Kieran Church in Chicago Heights.

Memorial gathering and mass on Saturday, April 1, 2023 from 10:00 AM until the time of mass at 11:30 AM at Kerr-Parzygnot Funeral Home 540 Dixie Hwy. (at Joe Orr Rd.), Chicago Heights, IL 60411  (708) 754-0016.  Inurnment Private:  Calvary Cemetery, Steger, Illinois.