DOROTHY NOREEN STAVINOHA
1935-2017
Dorothy Noreen (Merritt) Stavinoha was born in Jerome, Idaho on October 22, 1935 to William and Dorothy Merritt. Her life here came to a close on Tuesday, July 18, 2017.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Edwin; and her parents.
Throughout her life, she went by her middle name, Noreen, to avoid confusion with her mother. The Merritt family moved from Idaho to California when Noreen was five years old, and it was there in 1951 that she met Edwin Stavinoha, who was a Marine stationed at El Toro Marine Air Base. They married in the old San Gabriel Mission in San Gabriel, California on July 11, 1953. After a brief honeymoon in Santa Barbara, they came to Houston.
Noreen loved being a mother to her five children, and considered them her finest accomplishment. She worked for many years as secretary to various employers, and after reaching official retirement age, 65, she continued to work part-time until 2013.
Most of her married life was spent in Houston and Katy, but there was a sevenyear span of time when the Stavinohas lived in Schulenburg, Texas. For much of that time she was able to satisfy her interest in history by volunteering as a docent for the Painted Church tours around Schulenburg and by serving on the board of directors of the Schulenburg Historical Museum. She was a member of the Literary Club, and also sat on the board of the Chamber of Commerce for two terms.
Writing nonfiction was always a part of her adult life, and she took that in different directions. When her children were small, she was an avid letter writer, and as they grew up she wrote feature stories and informative articles that appeared in newspapers and magazine.
She was active in her church throughout her adult life, and especially enjoyed being a Eucharistic Minister, teaching CCE classes, and Bible study. She was a member of St. Bartholomew the Apostle Catholic Church in Katy.
Noreen leaves behind her children and their spouses, Michael and Colleen, Walter, Larry, Laura and Morris, and Jason and Nohemi; daughter-in-law, Melinda; five grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; as well as other loving family members and friends.
A rosary will be recited at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 3, 2017, at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church, in Katy, where a memorial mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, August 4, 2017, with Rev. Christopher Plant, Celebrant. Burial will be at the Catholic Cemetery in Praha, Texas.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Bartholomew Catholic Church, 5356 Eleventh Street, Katy, Texas 77493; or to The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, 18251 Quantico Gateway Drive, Triangle, Virginia 22172, or online at www. toysfortots.org