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Welcome to the memorial page for
Dorothy J. (Larnick) Cichocki
January 18, 1955 ~ April 17, 2017 (age 62) 62 Years Old Light a Candle
Leave a Condolence
Message from Pat Blyman Miles
May 30, 2017 5:12 AM
Gerry I am so sorry for your loss! Condolences to you, your family and Dorothy's family
Message from Maggie
April 24, 2017 11:44 AM
When Gerry asked me to say a few words at Dottie's service, I was humbled and then terrified – Dottie has been my best friend for over half a century, knows me better than anyone & the necessity of moving forward without her is barely conceivable.
Gerry, Mr. Larnick, Bob & Amy – these past months have brought us all together, which I believe was Dot's intent. I know she realized that each of us would need the support of the others from this moment forward.
Dottie and I met at a Brownie Girl Scout meeting in September, 1963 in the cafeteria of Medill School. I took the bus from Holy Angels and her mom met me at the school doors and sat me down next to Dottie. I'm sure she told her I didn't know anyone and she was to be nice to me. Dot certainly took that direction to heart! She made sure I was included in every activity and always picked me to be her buddy at meetings. That following summer our brothers played little league and Dot and I saw each other at a game and cemented our friendship. Neither one of us was happy when we found out that we wouldn't see each other at every game our brothers played as there were more than two teams in the league!
Over the ensuing years Dottie, RuthAnn, Cheryl & I formed an inseparable quartet within our troop, and it was difficult during my third years of Brownies and Juniors as they were a year older and moved up without me. But, when we were in the same troop, we spent a great part of the time pursuing questionable paths more often than not!
Fearless, we got lost at Grove Point more than once, set fire to a wooden bridge at Country Center (we were re-creating the contest Mrs. Larnick had held earlier that day to see which scout could build a small fire and be the first to burn through a cord that she had strung a foot above the cement walkway). At Camp Todd, the bottom of my walking cast fell off in the lake – who knew water would dissolve it – actually Mrs. Larnick told me going in the water with only a bag I held on was a bad idea but Dottie was sure she was wrong.
Fast forward to Grove Point several years later and with straight faces we convinced the sailing instructor that we could take one of the camp sailboats on the Sassafras River – Dottie told her that her grandmother lived on Long Island Sound and she went out in a boat all the time up there. She neglected to mention it was not a sailboat.
Hours later, we had to be rescued from the middle of the river, never having made it across to Camp Rodney to see the Boy Scouts!
We did a lot more than camp – we earned our roller skating badge by taking lessons at Maryland Roller Skating Rink over three months and spent many happy Saturdays forming chains and whipping the scout on the end around the rink – very much against rink policy - when we knew the manager was in the office and not on the floor!
Thinking Day is celebrated by Girl Scouts & Guides all around the world and our Area held it at Louviers one spring – we had to learn to sing "Taps" in German, which Dot & I could still do as we found out this past fall while driving to the Beach.
By Cadettes, the four of us called ourselves the "Boogerbears" - Dot came up with the name. Our last troop trip that year was to Philly to see "Romeo & Juliet". Love at first sight? Killing yourself over a boy at age 14? We thought she was soooo dumb! Dottie, Cheryl & RuthAnn graduated from 8th grade, became Senior Girl Scouts and went off to Newark High. But this was the year I would not be left behind – they insisted that the Cadettes & Seniors meet together and share activities and they made sure I attended every Yellowjacket football game with them. Through my Junior year in high school, you would find me with them in a stadium rooting for Newark, even though I attended St. Mark's.
I began hosting a Christmas caroling sleepover every December. The four of us would find out where boys we knew from Newark High & St. Mark's lived in the Nottingham Green area and we would always make sure to sing in front of their homes! Afterwards, there was lots of bantering about which boy looked at whom the most!
Mrs. Larnick was extremely savvy and decided to try to reign in our hormones. She challenged our troop to set a goal of hiking the entire Chesapeake & Ohio Canal trail, 184.5 miles, which stretches from Cumberland, MD to Washington, DC. Our reward? The one that motivates every Girl Scout – a really cool patch and separate rockers for every section we completed! So, for over two years, we planned, trained, fundraised, and backpacked in every sort of weather condition - Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stayed these scouts from the swift completion of their appointed route! One of our most memorable hikes was in the pouring rain on a Saturday. In order to complete our trip on Sunday, we had to put bags over our socks before putting on our soaking wet boots to hike the last 7 miles. Well, we DID hike all 184.5 miles, and those patches are still on our Girl Scout jackets!
We also hiked some portions of the Appalachian trail when the winter weather was bad and parts of the C&O trail were closed. One snowy weekend it was so cold that nine scouts slept in one adirondack (it was meant for four) to try to stay warm. When we woke in the morning, we found that the leaders had slept in the car, but insisted that they never started it or turned on the heater! We still don't believe them.
When the weather was just too bad to go hiking, Mrs. Larnick came up with another plan to keep us busy – we were to earn our First Aid badge which required attending classes at the Red Cross building in Wilmington to learn CPR & First Aid. We were so enthusiastic that the teacher asked us if we would like to be certified as instructors. Of course we agreed and four months later the newly minted teachers were given our first assignment – to teach a group of workers at the GM plant on Boxwood Road. When we walked in that first night, there were four men waiting for class. By the time it ended two hours later, it was standing room only in that classroom. I will never forget Dottie announced that I would demonstrate wrapping a "broken arm", and every student's hand shot into the air to be the volunteer "victim". At this point Mrs. Larnick unequivocally informed the men that the instructors would demonstrate on each other and the men had to buddy up to demonstrate the techniques. We persevered and certified the men in First Aid & CPR in six weeks, and they were very gracious, treating us as if we were their daughters at the end. By this time Mrs. Larnick had decided that another tack was necessary to keep us busy and signed us up to join a hiking & camping Explorer Post. Boys! Finally!
Skiing was very popular with the guys, and the Post built a cabin on some land in Hazelton, PA., that had been given to it. On the first ski trip, on her first trip down the "beginner" slope, Dottie hit a patch of ice and broke her leg. I never got on a pair of skis again, but she went skiing whenever she could.
Drivers licenses gave us a lot of freedom, and the scouts especially liked to drive to the beach in Cheryl's convertible. We always made sure the Explorers knew when we were going down,(informational only, never for a moment did we pray that they would join us!)
Our Post spent several memorable weekends at Dottie's grandmother's home in Connecticut, trying to decide which girl liked which boy. As it turns out, one of our scouts & one of the explorers were soulmates and are happily married to this day.
After graduation, Dottie & RuthAnn went on to college and Cheryl went to work. I spent a lot of my high school senior year at the UD Commuter lounge with Dottie & RuthAnn. Sadly, we lost touch with Cheryl and by Christmas RuthAnn had met another student with whom she would fall in love and eventually marry - so Dottie & I became a duet.
I went off to college and we caught up on holidays and during the summer, and sometimes she would come to school for the weekend. It didn't matter how long it had been since we had been together, the conversation started up right where it had left off.
Dottie and I moved in together after college. We took lots weekend trips and one big trip to St. Thomas Virgin Islands. She insisted we invite my younger sister Mary so that she would have someone to go to the bars with at night since I didn't drink! We were roommates for over four years and Dottie only moved to her own place the week before she was maid of honor at my wedding.
About a year later, Dottie told me she had met someone and had given him her number, but didn't think he would call. She didn't ever talk about guys she had met and I could tell that this one was different. His name was Gerry. Well, he did call and her days of being a biker chick had begun! When she came to tell me they were to be married, she had never looked happier. And on their wedding day, she positively glowed. That will always be my favorite memory of Dottie – my quiet, devilish, reserved, lifelong friend bursting with joy!
Our moms had been lifelong members of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and they finally nagged both of us enough that we joined. Dottie made the commitment first, and I completed the paperwork several years later. She became very involved, while I was working night shift and not able to get to the meetings. But, she would always keep me updated and expected me to take a vacation day every year so that I could go the end of year meeting in May. Even though I didn't attend the meetings regularly, that did not free me from supporting her drives as she would come to the house and browbeat me into a contribution or the purchase of a fundraising pin!
Eighteen months ago, I changed jobs and we were on a roll. DAR meetings, movie nights, lunches. We went on a Girl Scout bus trip to New York City this past December. Our itinerary was determined by Dottie. We saw the Rockettes Christmas show at Radio City Music Hall, the Rockefeller Christmas tree and lit candles in St. Patrick's Cathedral. We went to a Christmas market in one of the squares and haggled with street vendors. We made more plans for the future – trips to the beach, crab cake lunches, planning centerpieces for DAR chapter meetings, attending both the DAR state meeting and the DAR national convention. But, cancer intervened. So we made new plans. Day trips, doctor visits. We spent a lot more time together – very easy, no need to talk, enjoying each other's company – just as it used to be when we were roommates 35 years ago.
We still had fun and joked and laughed. Two memorable moments most recently occurred during chemo appointments at Penn.
Dottie always took home some Philly soft pretzels to Gerry & some fabulous cookies we found at the restaurant in Penn's lobby. We had a late appointment this one day and she was afraid both would be sold out before we got downstairs so I went to get what she wanted and put it in the car. When I got back to the waiting area, she was no longer there and I asked the young man at the desk to take me to her. Dottie was not yet in the room where he left me, but she was coming down the hall as he went out. He said, "Ma'am, your daughter is waiting for you in the examination room." We laughed the rest of the day and every time after that when she told the tale.
I pray the rosary as often as I can and am usually carrying a rosary in my hand if I expect to be waiting somewhere. The last time we were at Penn, the doctor had to let Dottie know that the immunotherapy was not working. Dottie turned to me, flicked the rosary in my hand and said, "You need to get a new one. This one is not working!"
Dottie never dwelled on the negative, but always looked ahead to what could be. She was quiet, and when she made a comment it was laser sharp, to the point and usually quite funny!
I stand before you today in one of the outfits that Dottie had approved for me to wear at the DAR National Convention this coming June. She had given up on getting me to wear suit jackets, and "normal" dresses and spent a lot of time shaking her head when I showed her the attire I planned to take to DC. (Dottie felt that I tended to dress a little too much like a "hippie" at times. I have no clue where she got that idea!) Dottie had shown me the cocktail hat she had purchased to wear for the formal dinner at the convention last year and we decided I should have one made to wear this year so that we could be twins. The hat makes its debut today in honor of Dottie.
My dearest friend has taken a big piece of my heart with her, but has apparently gifted me with allergies so that every time I sneeze I'll have to think of her! My greatest wish is that you Go with God, my sister scout, grow a beautiful garden and have lots of adventures planned that will get us into trouble, even in Heaven!
Gerry, Mr. Larnick, Bob & Amy – these past months have brought us all together, which I believe was Dot's intent. I know she realized that each of us would need the support of the others from this moment forward.
Dottie and I met at a Brownie Girl Scout meeting in September, 1963 in the cafeteria of Medill School. I took the bus from Holy Angels and her mom met me at the school doors and sat me down next to Dottie. I'm sure she told her I didn't know anyone and she was to be nice to me. Dot certainly took that direction to heart! She made sure I was included in every activity and always picked me to be her buddy at meetings. That following summer our brothers played little league and Dot and I saw each other at a game and cemented our friendship. Neither one of us was happy when we found out that we wouldn't see each other at every game our brothers played as there were more than two teams in the league!
Over the ensuing years Dottie, RuthAnn, Cheryl & I formed an inseparable quartet within our troop, and it was difficult during my third years of Brownies and Juniors as they were a year older and moved up without me. But, when we were in the same troop, we spent a great part of the time pursuing questionable paths more often than not!
Fearless, we got lost at Grove Point more than once, set fire to a wooden bridge at Country Center (we were re-creating the contest Mrs. Larnick had held earlier that day to see which scout could build a small fire and be the first to burn through a cord that she had strung a foot above the cement walkway). At Camp Todd, the bottom of my walking cast fell off in the lake – who knew water would dissolve it – actually Mrs. Larnick told me going in the water with only a bag I held on was a bad idea but Dottie was sure she was wrong.
Fast forward to Grove Point several years later and with straight faces we convinced the sailing instructor that we could take one of the camp sailboats on the Sassafras River – Dottie told her that her grandmother lived on Long Island Sound and she went out in a boat all the time up there. She neglected to mention it was not a sailboat.
Hours later, we had to be rescued from the middle of the river, never having made it across to Camp Rodney to see the Boy Scouts!
We did a lot more than camp – we earned our roller skating badge by taking lessons at Maryland Roller Skating Rink over three months and spent many happy Saturdays forming chains and whipping the scout on the end around the rink – very much against rink policy - when we knew the manager was in the office and not on the floor!
Thinking Day is celebrated by Girl Scouts & Guides all around the world and our Area held it at Louviers one spring – we had to learn to sing "Taps" in German, which Dot & I could still do as we found out this past fall while driving to the Beach.
By Cadettes, the four of us called ourselves the "Boogerbears" - Dot came up with the name. Our last troop trip that year was to Philly to see "Romeo & Juliet". Love at first sight? Killing yourself over a boy at age 14? We thought she was soooo dumb! Dottie, Cheryl & RuthAnn graduated from 8th grade, became Senior Girl Scouts and went off to Newark High. But this was the year I would not be left behind – they insisted that the Cadettes & Seniors meet together and share activities and they made sure I attended every Yellowjacket football game with them. Through my Junior year in high school, you would find me with them in a stadium rooting for Newark, even though I attended St. Mark's.
I began hosting a Christmas caroling sleepover every December. The four of us would find out where boys we knew from Newark High & St. Mark's lived in the Nottingham Green area and we would always make sure to sing in front of their homes! Afterwards, there was lots of bantering about which boy looked at whom the most!
Mrs. Larnick was extremely savvy and decided to try to reign in our hormones. She challenged our troop to set a goal of hiking the entire Chesapeake & Ohio Canal trail, 184.5 miles, which stretches from Cumberland, MD to Washington, DC. Our reward? The one that motivates every Girl Scout – a really cool patch and separate rockers for every section we completed! So, for over two years, we planned, trained, fundraised, and backpacked in every sort of weather condition - Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stayed these scouts from the swift completion of their appointed route! One of our most memorable hikes was in the pouring rain on a Saturday. In order to complete our trip on Sunday, we had to put bags over our socks before putting on our soaking wet boots to hike the last 7 miles. Well, we DID hike all 184.5 miles, and those patches are still on our Girl Scout jackets!
We also hiked some portions of the Appalachian trail when the winter weather was bad and parts of the C&O trail were closed. One snowy weekend it was so cold that nine scouts slept in one adirondack (it was meant for four) to try to stay warm. When we woke in the morning, we found that the leaders had slept in the car, but insisted that they never started it or turned on the heater! We still don't believe them.
When the weather was just too bad to go hiking, Mrs. Larnick came up with another plan to keep us busy – we were to earn our First Aid badge which required attending classes at the Red Cross building in Wilmington to learn CPR & First Aid. We were so enthusiastic that the teacher asked us if we would like to be certified as instructors. Of course we agreed and four months later the newly minted teachers were given our first assignment – to teach a group of workers at the GM plant on Boxwood Road. When we walked in that first night, there were four men waiting for class. By the time it ended two hours later, it was standing room only in that classroom. I will never forget Dottie announced that I would demonstrate wrapping a "broken arm", and every student's hand shot into the air to be the volunteer "victim". At this point Mrs. Larnick unequivocally informed the men that the instructors would demonstrate on each other and the men had to buddy up to demonstrate the techniques. We persevered and certified the men in First Aid & CPR in six weeks, and they were very gracious, treating us as if we were their daughters at the end. By this time Mrs. Larnick had decided that another tack was necessary to keep us busy and signed us up to join a hiking & camping Explorer Post. Boys! Finally!
Skiing was very popular with the guys, and the Post built a cabin on some land in Hazelton, PA., that had been given to it. On the first ski trip, on her first trip down the "beginner" slope, Dottie hit a patch of ice and broke her leg. I never got on a pair of skis again, but she went skiing whenever she could.
Drivers licenses gave us a lot of freedom, and the scouts especially liked to drive to the beach in Cheryl's convertible. We always made sure the Explorers knew when we were going down,(informational only, never for a moment did we pray that they would join us!)
Our Post spent several memorable weekends at Dottie's grandmother's home in Connecticut, trying to decide which girl liked which boy. As it turns out, one of our scouts & one of the explorers were soulmates and are happily married to this day.
After graduation, Dottie & RuthAnn went on to college and Cheryl went to work. I spent a lot of my high school senior year at the UD Commuter lounge with Dottie & RuthAnn. Sadly, we lost touch with Cheryl and by Christmas RuthAnn had met another student with whom she would fall in love and eventually marry - so Dottie & I became a duet.
I went off to college and we caught up on holidays and during the summer, and sometimes she would come to school for the weekend. It didn't matter how long it had been since we had been together, the conversation started up right where it had left off.
Dottie and I moved in together after college. We took lots weekend trips and one big trip to St. Thomas Virgin Islands. She insisted we invite my younger sister Mary so that she would have someone to go to the bars with at night since I didn't drink! We were roommates for over four years and Dottie only moved to her own place the week before she was maid of honor at my wedding.
About a year later, Dottie told me she had met someone and had given him her number, but didn't think he would call. She didn't ever talk about guys she had met and I could tell that this one was different. His name was Gerry. Well, he did call and her days of being a biker chick had begun! When she came to tell me they were to be married, she had never looked happier. And on their wedding day, she positively glowed. That will always be my favorite memory of Dottie – my quiet, devilish, reserved, lifelong friend bursting with joy!
Our moms had been lifelong members of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and they finally nagged both of us enough that we joined. Dottie made the commitment first, and I completed the paperwork several years later. She became very involved, while I was working night shift and not able to get to the meetings. But, she would always keep me updated and expected me to take a vacation day every year so that I could go the end of year meeting in May. Even though I didn't attend the meetings regularly, that did not free me from supporting her drives as she would come to the house and browbeat me into a contribution or the purchase of a fundraising pin!
Eighteen months ago, I changed jobs and we were on a roll. DAR meetings, movie nights, lunches. We went on a Girl Scout bus trip to New York City this past December. Our itinerary was determined by Dottie. We saw the Rockettes Christmas show at Radio City Music Hall, the Rockefeller Christmas tree and lit candles in St. Patrick's Cathedral. We went to a Christmas market in one of the squares and haggled with street vendors. We made more plans for the future – trips to the beach, crab cake lunches, planning centerpieces for DAR chapter meetings, attending both the DAR state meeting and the DAR national convention. But, cancer intervened. So we made new plans. Day trips, doctor visits. We spent a lot more time together – very easy, no need to talk, enjoying each other's company – just as it used to be when we were roommates 35 years ago.
We still had fun and joked and laughed. Two memorable moments most recently occurred during chemo appointments at Penn.
Dottie always took home some Philly soft pretzels to Gerry & some fabulous cookies we found at the restaurant in Penn's lobby. We had a late appointment this one day and she was afraid both would be sold out before we got downstairs so I went to get what she wanted and put it in the car. When I got back to the waiting area, she was no longer there and I asked the young man at the desk to take me to her. Dottie was not yet in the room where he left me, but she was coming down the hall as he went out. He said, "Ma'am, your daughter is waiting for you in the examination room." We laughed the rest of the day and every time after that when she told the tale.
I pray the rosary as often as I can and am usually carrying a rosary in my hand if I expect to be waiting somewhere. The last time we were at Penn, the doctor had to let Dottie know that the immunotherapy was not working. Dottie turned to me, flicked the rosary in my hand and said, "You need to get a new one. This one is not working!"
Dottie never dwelled on the negative, but always looked ahead to what could be. She was quiet, and when she made a comment it was laser sharp, to the point and usually quite funny!
I stand before you today in one of the outfits that Dottie had approved for me to wear at the DAR National Convention this coming June. She had given up on getting me to wear suit jackets, and "normal" dresses and spent a lot of time shaking her head when I showed her the attire I planned to take to DC. (Dottie felt that I tended to dress a little too much like a "hippie" at times. I have no clue where she got that idea!) Dottie had shown me the cocktail hat she had purchased to wear for the formal dinner at the convention last year and we decided I should have one made to wear this year so that we could be twins. The hat makes its debut today in honor of Dottie.
My dearest friend has taken a big piece of my heart with her, but has apparently gifted me with allergies so that every time I sneeze I'll have to think of her! My greatest wish is that you Go with God, my sister scout, grow a beautiful garden and have lots of adventures planned that will get us into trouble, even in Heaven!
A candle was lit by Maggie
on April 24, 2017 11:43 AM
Message from Mary Cullen
April 23, 2017 8:10 AM
I am so sorry for your loss. I had the pleasure of working with Dottie at MeadowWood. She was a dedicated nurse who served as a welcome role model to nursing students and staff. May she rest in peace. Amen.
A candle was lit by Mary Cullen
on April 23, 2017 8:06 AM
A candle was lit by Mendy
on April 21, 2017 12:19 PM
Message from Mendy McLaren and Family
April 21, 2017 12:19 PM
Dottie was such an amazing lady. Please accept our condolences on your family's loss..she will always be loved and missed.
Message from Nina Larnick
April 19, 2017 8:24 PM
I miss you Aunt Dot. I will make sure Kelli gets lots of kisses and carrots. I will make sure Uncle Gerry keeps the holidays straight. He misses you too. I love you. Nina
A candle was lit by Amy Larnick
on April 19, 2017 8:22 PM
A candle was lit by Nina Larnick
on April 19, 2017 8:10 PM
A candle was lit by Morris family
on April 19, 2017 5:28 PM
Message from Teresa Oravitz
April 19, 2017 9:30 AM
Dottie was a kind and gentle soul. It was a pleasure to have known her. May God Bless Gerry and family at this difficult time. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
A candle was lit by Teresa Oravitz
on April 19, 2017 9:21 AM
A candle was lit by Carolyn Grabowski
on April 18, 2017 1:56 PM
May the angels lead you into Paradise, Dottie. My heartfelt sympathy to Gerry and all those who cherished Dottie during her time with us.
May the angels lead you into Paradise, Dottie. My heartfelt sympathy to Gerry and all those who cherished Dottie during her time with us.
A candle was lit by Cousin Carolyn
on April 18, 2017 1:54 PM
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