Dorothy Lucille (Novotny) Rock

Dorothy Lucille Rock, née Novotny, a cherished member of our family, passed away on March 19, 2025.

Martin Steven Novotny and Dorothy Lux (aka Luks) left what is now northeast Slovakia for a new life in America and married in January 1913. Almost exactly 19 years later, on January 13, 1932, they welcomed their seventh and final child. 

Dorothy grew up on Youngstown’s Southside, in the Lansingville neighborhood then dominated by immigrants. One of the stories she told about her eight years at Saint Matthias School was standing with her classmates as the car transporting President Franklin Delano Roosevelt drove by. 

She focused on business and art courses at Woodrow Wilson High School and graduated in June 1949.  She credits her brother Joe for encouraging her to learn shorthand, a skill that served her well during her career as stenographer and secretary. 

Dorothy began at Metal Trims in Campbell and after that small company moved to Mississippi, she moved on to the larger Metal Carbides, and eventually to the immense Youngstown Sheet & Tube. Because of the late 1970s demise of Youngstown’s steel industry, she transitioned to the public sector and worked for Judge John Donofrio in the Courts of Appeals of Mahoning County until retiring in 1993.  

She was 40 years old when she was introduced to Bob Rock, also 40.  Although they attended Wilson at the same time, they didn’t know each other until a chance meeting on Saint Patrick’s Day at the Desert Inn in Lowellville. She described their meeting as Biblical: “After 40 years, we met wandering in the Desert!” They married at Saint Matthias Church on April 28, 1973, and shared 41 years together in Poland.

Dorothy’s Roman Catholic faith was integral to her life. She received her sacraments at Saint Matthias and much later founded the Holy Hour there. She belonged to the Dominicana and Saint Paul Clubs at Saint Columba Cathedral and also attended Saint Dominic Church. She made a pilgrimage to Medjugorje, formerly Yugoslavia, now Bosnia and Herzegovina, said to be a site of apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary. 

She embraced her Slovak heritage. Because she learned the language from her parents, she was able to translate and reply to letters from family in Europe.  She carried her mother’s name and carried on what she learned from her in the kitchen, including the dishes for the traditional Christmas Eve “Vilija” dinner. In July 1969, when Apollo 11 journeyed to the Moon, she and her niece Mary visited Switzerland, Austria, France, Italy, and Czecho-Slovakia, including time in their family’s ancestral villages.  A quarter century later, she hosted her cousin from Slovakia, Sister Martina, a nun. She loved to sing and performed with the Slovak Balladeers, a local choral group.

Both before and during her marriage she traveled throughout the USA, going as far as California. 

Dorothy was accomplished at crochet and won ribbons at the Canfield Fair. She enjoyed art and photography and took classes at The Butler Museum of American Art. Both actress Kim Novak and Cleveland Indian Omar Vizquel held solo shows there and Dorothy welcomed the opportunity to attend their openings and chat with them. 

She enjoyed tennis, belonged to the Youngstown Ski Club, and rooted for Cleveland’s sports teams.

In addition to her husband, who passed away November 18, 2014, Dorothy was predeceased by her parents, and parents-in-law Joseph and Eleanor Rock, sisters Johanna Novotny Stasko and pre-teen Mary Novotny; brothers Martin George, Valent, Joseph, and Frank Novotny; nieces Mary Stasko Zimomra, Rose Stasko, and Rita Novotny Roberts; nephew George Stasko, and nephews-in-law Andy Sedlar, and Stephen Morris, and other relatives.

She leaves behind her nieces Shirley Novotny Sedlar and Nancy Novotny Beadle, who were key to her well-being during her three-year residence at Antonine Village, especially this year. 

Also, her lifelong friend Mary Pyne. 

They and those who follow below will miss her deeply…

Sister-in-law Bernice Novotny, nephews Martin George Jr. (Karen) Novotny, godson Ray Novotny, Rich (Brad Town) Novotny, Ray (Beth) Dunn, nephews-in-law Ralph Roberts and Bill Beadle, and nieces, Debi DeWees, Denise Rock (Ken) McMillan, Diane Morris; and goddaughter Karen Zerbonia Wilson.

Great-nephews and nieces: Martin Donald Novotny, Kristi Novotny, Greg Sedlar (Nora Williams), Ed (Michelle) Sedlar, Cindy (Doug) Baker, Vince Roberts, Theresa Roberts Ankrum (fiancé Jeff Perrotta), Dom (Stephanie) Roberts, Claire Beadle, Abby Beadle, April Kovach, and Allison Kovach.

Great-great-nephews and nieces: Martin Israel Novotny, Amanda Sedlar, Gregory (Ariane) Sedlar, Austin Sedlar, Nick Sedlar, Robert Ankrum, Anneliese Rose Roberts, Naomi Mae Roberts, Lars Byo, Lance Byo, Gabriel Kovach, Donnie (McKenna) DeWees, Dawn DeWees-Crane (Paul Crane), Gina Tucker, Jaclyn Iagulli, Danny (Pam) James, Meghan (Sam) Kennedy, Jessica (Paul) Stewart, and Ken McMillan.

And other relatives and friends, especially Florence Dornbush.

Special thanks go to Sisters Samia and Dolly, nurses, and staff at Antonine Village and Patriot Hospice for their compassionate care. 

The family suggests donations be made in Dorothy’s name to Antonine Village 2675 North Lipkey Road, North Jackson, OH 44451 or Patriots Hospice, 986 Tibbetts-Wick Road Girard, OH 44420

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Kubina-Yuhasz-Wasko Funeral Home in Boardman. 
Calling hours will be held from 10-11 am on Tuesday, March 25 at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, Saint Matthias Church, in Youngstown. A Mass of Christian

Burial will be 11 am celebrated by Reverend Monsignor Peter Polando.

Dorothy will be laid to rest next to her husband at Calvary Cemetery in Youngstown.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Kubina Yuhasz Wasko Funeral Home in Boardman.

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