Dorothy Jean Powers

Dorothy Jean Powers (nee Zirkelbach)

May 29, 1927 – April 07, 2011

Dorothy was born in Milwaukee, WI, and moved to Chicago where her father, George, was an executive at Colgate.

Her father died when Dorothy was only three. Her widowed mother, Clara, drove her family across the country to California in 1936. On the adventurous trip were Dorothy Jean, her two older brothers, George and Bob, and a puppy.

In California, the family settled in Glendale where Dotti attended Holy Family Catholic School, graduating in 1947. At Holy Family, she was voted prom queen. She stayed close to her classmates from the Class of 1947 enjoying annual (or twice annual!) reunions.

After high school she enjoyed working at Security Bank in Glendale and bought a convertible Chevrolet. After a four-year courtship, Dorothy married Bob Powers on June 27, 1954, in Glendale. She had two children Nancy and Jim (wife Mary).

The family lived in Canada, Germany, France and Switzerland from 1962 through 1973. She made many friends abroad and returned to Glendale with a command of German and French.

Moving to Burbank in 1978, Dotti volunteered in the eucharistic ministry program at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. She was an avid genealogist tracing her ancestry back to Germany. She was also a lifelong photographer, taking many 3-D pictures in the 1960's and 1970's of her travels and family. Luck followed her in lotteries! She won thousands in the California Lottery and her parish lottery which she donated to charities and funded family adventures like a trip to Israel, Disneyland and hot air ballooning in Napa.

Dorothy was the loving grandmother of Ryan (wife Kristina) and Sammy, and the great grandmother of Laura and Clara. Dotti was genuine and kind, filled with grace and love. She loved her church, pets and romantic movies. Dotti led a fulfilled life that left her satisfied, leaving behind a family she loved and who love her.

A memorial service will be held at Mission Hills Catholic Mortuary, Saturday, April 16 at 1:00 p.m.