Dorothea C. VanKirk

What a Mother means to our family.....

She is the first person you meet when you're born as a child, and if you're lucky, you will be the last person she sees before it's her time.

Our mom is one of six children, born to her mother, Patricia. Growing up, it was challenging but despite all her challenges, she overcame everything and started a family of her own having three children, being our sister Heather, myself Amy, and finally our brother Jake, married to our dad, Bruce.

All our lives she has been there no matter what. We knew she passed having no regrets in the way she lived her life. She lived, she laughed, and loved us with all her heart. "There's nothing in this world she wouldn't do for her kids." This is what we always remember her saying. That's how she lived her life, for her family. She wasn't perfect, but she was perfect for us. There's not one memory we have where she wasn't there. From picking us up when we fell, helping with homework at 10 p.m. after working for 12 hours, or meeting "Santa" down the street before Christmas to tell him what we wanted, she was always there.

After my sister and I met our soul mates and started families of our own, she continued to be there not only for us, but all of her grandchildren and most recent, great grandchild, too. She was always at Christmas plays, orchestras, and baseball games (those were her favorite). She loved being part of everything. She worked at providing a life for her family, but she worked even harder to try to keep us together. Every birthday, holiday, special event and everything in between, she was always there.

Of course, she loved to do some things on her own too. One passion, and fault, she had was gambling. Whether she was alone, or with her mom, she loved the casino and playing her machines. I think she loved the excitement and thrill of it more than anything. She didn't always come out ahead, but she always came home and we never lacked for anything as kids. Another passion she had was talking. We always said she could talk life into a dead tree. Everywhere we went, she seemed to know someone or someone would come up to her that hadn't seen her in years but would stand there and talk to her for hours. That's one thing we loved and hated at the same time. Looking back, it's amazing how much of an impact she made in the lives of others. She was so personable and easy to talk to.

In the most recent years, due to her medical conditions, she was extremely limited in what she could do or where she could go. But she still loved life. She was surrounded by her closest family and friends. She was still such a huge part of what was happening around her. Though she was difficult to deal with at times, we would give anything to get that time back. We always say just give us one more day. Truth is, there would never be enough days to find the right way to say goodbye. In the end, we don’t say goodbye, we say "Until we meet again".

Mom, we will see you again. We hope when our time comes, you'll be waiting with open arms and the love we all remember. Gone from our presence, but forever in our hearts, we will love and remember you always! Until we meet again.....

Dorothea is survived by her husband, Bruce VanKirk of McKeesport, PA; children, Heather (Jesse) Barno of McKeesport, PA; Amy (Shawn) Croyts of North Versailles, PA; and Jake VanKirk of McKeesport, PA; seven grandchildren; one great-grandchild; sisters, Andrea (Ronald) Yule of North Versailles, PA; Patricia (Wayne) Jones of Cumberland, MD; Amber (Dale) Alexander of McKeesport, PA; and niece, Christie (Adam) Templeton of Little River, SC; and other nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, Dorothea was preceded in death by her brothers, Ronald Stricklin, Jr.; and Harry E. Coulter, III.

A memorial gathering will take place on Saturday, January 31, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the White Oak Volunteer Fire Company #1, 1130 California Avenue, White Oak Borough, PA, 15131. Arrangements are being cared for by Strifflers of White Oak Cremation and Mortuary Services, Inc., 1100 Lincoln Way, White Oak, PA, 15131 (Sue Striffler Galaski, supervisor, 412-678-6177).

To share a memory or condolence, please visit www.strifflerfuneralhomes.com