OBITUARY

Dorothy Bernice Zielinski, a former longtime Costa Mesa resident, died

Sunday in Mesa, Ariz. She was 79.

Mrs. Zielinski was born in Taylor, Tex., in August 1921 to Czech

immigrants. She grew up on a small cotton farm and raised three brothers

and a sister. At 17, she attended college at Hermann Hospital in Houston

and received a bachelor’s degree in nursing.

During her career, Mrs. Zielinski as a surgical ward nurse, a college

counselor and worked in public health with heroin addicts, as well as a

clinic for young pregnant girls. She retired from nursing in fall of

1992.

After college, she enlisted in the Navy and was promoted to the rank

of ensign. She met and married Edward “Ski” Zielinski in August 1943.

The couple first lived in Costa Mesa from 1949 to 1952. In 1961, they

returned to the city, where they raised three children. They moved to

Mesa, Ariz., less than two years ago, but kept in touch with their former

neighbors.

The couple was also active in their church, St. Joachim. Mrs.

Zielinski was involved in many philanthropic clubs.

A memorial service was held Thursday in Arizona.

Mrs. Zielinski is survived by Edward, her husband of 57 years; her

three children, sons Michael Zielinski and Christopher Zielinski and

daughter Patricia Kuluris; and eight grandchildren: Courtney, Nicole,

Dustin, Taryn, Stephen, Mason, Zac and Kelzi.