Dorothy Mae Tibaldo

STEVENS POINT, Wis. - On the beautiful fall morning of Oct. 9, 2020, Dorothy Mae Tibaldo, 84, passed away peacefully at Willow Brooke Point Assisted Living with her family at her side.

Dorothy was born to Martin and Jennie Maki on Dec. 3, 1935, in Ironwood, Michigan, where she resided all of her life until moving to central Wisconsin in 2019 to be near her family.

She graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in Ironwood in 1953.

While working at Joe's Pasty Shop in Ironwood, she met Joseph Tibaldo who gave her a ride home one night and told her "you will never have to walk alone again." They married on Aug. 22, 1953, and recently celebrated 67 years of marriage. She was the love of his life! He always said there would be just one!

In their younger years, they were often seen walking along the back roads of Ironwood Township. She and Joe had a passion for music (he was a musician after all). The past year, they were able to enjoy live music and whatever Joe could pull up on YouTube.

She was proud of her Finnish heritage and definitely displayed "sisu." As she married an Italian man, she honed her skills at making homemade Italian foods such as gnocchi, ravioli, and polenta with salaminis. The best desserts ever were created if it was her night to host "card club" with the neighborhood ladies.

As a lifelong member of Our Lady of Peace Cathlic Church, she participated in many church activities - LaRosa Sunday being her favorite.

When she reentered the workforce she was employed by Sears in Ironwood and Aeronautics Inc. in Hurley where she developed many long-lasting friendships.

Besides her husband, she is survived by her children, Renee Oakes, Gina (Richard) Johnson, Louis Tibaldo, Janine (James) Pieper, and Patricia (Gordy) Lewis.

She loved babies and doted on her grandchildren, Melissa (Tory) Ankerson, Lucas (Stacey Stark) Balyeat, Paul Balyeat (Amy Simmer), Tessa (Jamie) Horne, Bradley (Shanna) Halsell, Tony Halsell, Shawn (Sarah) Halsell, Anna Pieper and Emily (Gregory) Patzer; and great-grandchildren, Dustin, Claire, Jamison, Jocelyn, Jarrett, Jaxton, Brenton, Dylan, Josey, Zoe, Brodie, Leo and Lilly.

She is further survived by sisters, Marilyn Vuorenmaa, Janice (Dennis) De Meio and Karen (Paul) Henning; brother, Marvin (Kathy) Maki; brother-in-law, Albert (Jean) Tibaldo; sisters-in-law, Sylvia Chelemedos and Mary Dooley; along with many nieces and nephews.

Besides her parents, Dorothy was preceded in death by her brothers, Donald, Raymond and Reynold; and sister, Joyce (Leslie) Price; along with several in-laws and relatives.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff of Marshfield Clinic, Ascension St. Michael's Hospital, Willow Brooke Point Senior Living Center, and Heartland Hospice for the tender care and respect shown towards Dorothy.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church, 108 S. Marquette St., in Ironwood, on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Monsignor Jed Patrick as celebrant.

Rite of Committal and inurnment will follow the Mass at Sunset Acres Cemetery in Ironwood Township, Michigan.

In lieu of flowers or donations, memorials may be made to the charity of your choice in honor of Dorothy.

The family has chosen Ketola-Burla Funeral Home of Ironwood to honor Dorothy's legacy of life. You can leave a condolence or a tribute at rangefuneralservices.com.

"Farewell Cara Mia"