Dorothea Long Koehler

Dorothea Josephine Long Koehler was born April 14, 1940 in Chicago, IL . The United States had entered into the conflict of World War 2 just 7 months prior. Dotty Jo, as she was known was mischievous and head strong, often finding herself at odds with the nuns who taught at her Catholic school, St. Nicholas. She and her brother, Norman, had the run of the city while their mother, Dorothea Rose Findlay Long, worked as a police woman down by Lake Michigan. The daughter of a divorced, single woman, Dotty learned to be self reliant.

After attending boarding school for high school, Dotty enrolled at Xavier College where she received her teaching degree. Throughout her college career, she worked at Prudential in downtown Chicago and as a runway model. Upon graduation she took a teaching position at an inner city school.

But her wanderlust got the better of her and she applied to be a teacher with the department of defense. Dotty would spend the next two years traipsing all over Europe, Asia, and the USSR while teaching base children reading, writing, and arithmetic. And, it is in Germany that she met the love of her life, Donald Koehler, a staff Sergeant in the Air Force.

Don and Dotty were married August 30,1968 and quickly set to work starting a family. Their first daughter, Dorothea, was born followed by Dawn, exactly 1 year later. With a set of Irish twins, they had their hands full. They completed their family with the birth of a son, Donald.

Upon DJ entering Kindergarten, Dotty returned to teaching and, but for a short sojourn in banking, would retire from the profession as a second grade teacher in 2009.

After the death of her husband in 2011, Dotty, an avid music lover, joined several choirs, played bells in a bell choir, and used her talent as a pianist. She was always up for an adventure and made friends wherever she went, whether at the soup kitchen, traveling with Rhode Scholars, or participating in her communities senior programs.

Dorothea is preceded in death by her loving husband, Don, her mother, Dorothea Rose, her brother, Norman, and her grandson, Jordan. She is survived by her children, Dea(Pete), Dawn(Patrick), and DJ(Delie), as well as 8 grandchildren; Dorothea Catherine, Gabe(Francesca), Kelsey( Michael), Rachel(Ben), Caleb, Sarah Jo, Mikayla, and Noah. She is also survived by her soul sister, Sarah Freshour.

Dorothea had a strong devotion to St. Padre Pio, and in his words “Pray, Hope, and Don’t Worry”

Till we meet again…

A gathering will be held on Friday, February 16, 2024 from 6-8pm with a rosary service at 7pm, at Sylvan Abbey Funeral Home 2853 Sunset Point Road Clearwater, Florida 33759.

A Requiem Mass will be held at 10:30am on Saturday, February 17, 2024 Epiphany of Our Lord Catholic Church, 2510 E. Hanna Avenue Tampa, Florida 33610.