Dolores H. Hlavac (nee Panek), age 88, of Wauseon, OH, passed away May 5, 2020 at her home after a long illness. Dolores, the daughter of Adam and Marie (Wieszorek) Panek, was born on January 12, 1932, in Chicago, IL. Dolores married John R. Jennings October 01, 1952 in Chicago, IL and they divorced in 1970.
She later married Erwin F. Hlavac, Sr. in Bolingbrook, IL and they lived in Berwyn, IL. Following her retirement, she then moved to Jensen Beach, FL with her husband, Erwin. Dolores then moved to Wauseon, Ohio in 2017 after her husband passed and lived with her daughter, AnnMarie (Jennings) Reynolds.
Dolores was employed by Bolingbrook Police Dept., Illinois for 30 years as a 911 Dispatcher and Records Clerk. Her hobbies included millinery work, sewing costumes, hand embroidery, quilting, and making baby blankets with matching bears. She also enjoyed miniature arts and miniature dolls of her nieces and nephews.
She modeled tea cups after her nieces and nephews homes with mini newspapers of the Moon Landing on the steps. She also made porcelain dolls, some replicated her grand-daughters. She was known as the “Doll Lady” where she lived on Nettles Island in Florida. Dolores credited her survival of serious illnesses and her long life to her being of strong Polish heritage.
Dolores is survived by her daughter, AnnMarie (Jennings) Reynolds; and son, John J. Jennings. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Ashley N. Jennings; Jessica L. Jennings; and MiKayla R. Jennings; nieces, Donna Ray Gasiorowski; Pamela Surhay; Linda Grgula, Patricia Ann Swiegert; nephews, Michael Kalfas; Paul R. Kalfas; and Joseph Grgula. Numerous great- nieces and great-nephews. Her survivors also include her step family, Janet Fossum, and her son, Andrew, Erwin Hlavac and his daughter, Melissa. step-grandchildren, Jeffrey Gutke, Julie Gutke, and Jason Gutke. Numerous step-great-grandchildren.
Dolores is preceded in death by her parents, husband, her siblings, Lorraine Roman, Laverne Kalfas, Richard Panek, Virginia Grula.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Funeral Mass of the Resurrection will be private in St. Caspar Catholic Church, Wauseon, Ohio. Fr. Stan Tabor will officiate. Inurnment will be held in the future in Bohemian National Cemetery, Chicago, IL.
In lieu of flowers, concrete statuary, blankets and other mementos, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to: St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
Online condolences can be made to the family at www.grisierfh.com. Edgar-Grisier Funeral Home in Wauseon, Ohio has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements for the Hlavac family.
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