Dorothy Jaklitsch Kutzman

Dorothy Jaklitsch Kutzman died peacefully on April 24, 2024, at home in South Carolina, surrounded by her loving family – the only way she would have wanted to say goodbye.

Dorothy was born February 27, 1943, in Glendale, New York, to the late Joseph Jaklitsch, Sr. and Marie Jaklitsch. A daughter of devout-Catholic, Austrian immigrants, she embodied the values of resilience, faith, family, and unconditional love. A graduate of Dominican Commercial High School in 1960, Dorothy was a trailblazer for her time, pursuing a nearly 20-year career in the insurance industry - before it was fashionable for a woman to have a career. She traded in that career for the self-described greatest role of her life – being a wife, mother, and eventual grandmother.

In 1976, she married the love of her life, Thomas Kutzman, Sr., with whom she brought into this world her “sunshine” Christine, in 1977, and her “pumpkin” Thomas, Jr., in 1982. While her time with her husband Tom was sadly cut short in 1993 due to the complications of his pancreatic cancer diagnosis, her devotion to him and her family never wavered for the rest of her life.

Dorothy was known for her generosity of time, ability to listen and give advice without judgement, not to mention her acuity with math – reminding us regularly that she scored 100 on all her math regents in high school. She had the ability to stretch a dollar on a humble budget, made couponing and sales an art form, and would never miss the opportunity to teach you the valuable lesson that “if you watch your pennies, the dollars will take care of themselves.”

Dorothy is survived by her devoted daughter Christine Kutzman Campisi and son-in-law Christopher Campisi - who both cared for her at their home during her late challenges with Alzheimer’s disease – her son Thomas Kutzman, Jr., daughter-in-law Mary Hsu, and granddaughters Kathleen Campisi, Hannah Campisi, and Elena Campisi. She is also survived by her loving baby brother, Joseph Jaklitsch, Jr., and preceded by her beloved sister Evelyn Stoecker.

Family and friends in South Carolina are invited to visit on Friday, April 26, at Palmetto Funeral Home, 2049 Carolina Place Drive, Fort Mill, SC 29708 from 6pm to 8pm.

Family and friends in New York are invited to visit on Tuesday, April 30, at Werst Labella Funeral Home, 71-41 Cooper Ave, Glendale, NY 11385 from 3pm to 8pm.

A funeral mass will be held Wednesday, May 1, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 83-17 78th Ave, Glendale, NY 11385 at 10:30am.

In lieu of flowers, for those who wish to honor Dorothy, donations may be made in her memory to the Alzheimer’s Association  www.alz.org

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