DOROTHY E. (JOHNSEN) FINNERAN

Sept. 16, 1926 - March 5, 2013
SOUTH BEND - Dorothy E. Finneran, 86, passed away Tuesday, March 5, 2013, in South Bend, Indiana, with her family at her side. Dorothy was born on September 16, 1926 in South Bend, Indiana to Andrew and Emma (Swenson) Johnsen.

She attended Colfax Elementary School and graduated from South Bend Central High School in 1945.

On January 24, 1948 she married John E. Finneran of South Bend and together they raised eight children.

Mrs. Finneran is preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Raymond, Robert, and Lloyd Johnsen; her sisters, Mabel Ritenberg and Ann Koblick; her husband, John E. Finneran; her grandchild, Melinda Finneran; and her great-grandchild, Zarah Robinson.

She is survived by her large loving family including her sister, Virginia (Jerry) Smith of Union MI; her eight children: Barbara (Earl) Simon of South Bend, IN, Patricia (John) Larson of Culver, IN, John F. Finneran of South Bend, IN, Frank (Suzanne) Finneran of Naperville, IL, Marie (Gary) Koontz of Mishawaka, IN, Tim (Jennifer) Finneran of Mishawaka, IN, Michelle (Michael) Green of Constantine, MI, and Jim Finneran of South Bend, IN; and seventeen grandchildren: Jeff Simon, David (Nicole) Simon, Brian Larson, Heather (Michael) Robinson, Joshua (Olycia) Larson, Sean Finneran, Shannon Finneran, Meagen Finneran, Kevin Eck, Ryan Finneran, Sara (Paul) Krieg, Emily (Christopher) Mullins, Tom Koontz, Steve Koontz, Tim Koontz, Brittiany Finneran, and Dustin Altimus; and eleven great-grandchildren: Aidan Robinson, Keegan Robinson, Brennan Robinson, Aveleen Robinson, Kayleigh Krieg, Kinsey Krieg, Anthony Simon, Matthew Simon, Makayla Mullins, Jade Altimus, and Sadie Altimus.

Dorothy was a devout Catholic and a member of the St. Matthew Cathedral parish since approximately 1950, as well as a member of the People of Praise since approximately 1978. After raising eight children, Dorothy went back to work serving others with jobs at the LaSalle Hotel, Real Services and (her favorite) the Boys and Girls Club. Dorothy brightened the halls of the Milton Home for the past three years and we are grateful for the personal care she received from the staff. She loved her Lord, her family, her kitties, chocolate, the comics, the color red, all babies -- especially her grandchildren, writing poetry, singing and dancing, roller-skating, playing catch with her brothers as a little girl and with her sons as a little girl at heart. She was tiny but mighty. She was small but had a huge faith in her Lord. She was slow to speak, quick to listen and slow to get angry. She prayed first and asked questions later - sometimes never. She will be greatly missed and she is immensely loved.

Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, March 8, 2013, in the Palmer - River Park Funeral Chapel, 2528 W. Mishawaka Ave., South Bend, where a parish Rosary will be prayed at 6 p.m., followed by words of remembrance. Friends may also visit from 9:30-10:00 a.m. Saturday, March 9, 2013, at St. Matthew's Cathedral, 1701 Miami Street, South Bend, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. The burial will follow at Highland Cemetery in South Bend, Indiana. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to The St. Joseph County Right-To-Life, 2018 Ironwood Circle, South Bend, IN 46635.

Published by South Bend Tribune from Mar. 7 to Mar. 9, 2013

01/18/2023 EJS