Dorothy Rose Zywiec

Feb. 27, 1934 - Nov. 4, 2025

Dorothy Rose Zywiec, 91, of Fullerton, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, at Litzenberg Memorial Long-Term Care in Central City.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Fullerton. Burial will follow at St. Peter’s Catholic Cemetery in Fullerton. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Palmer-Santin Funeral Home is serving the family.

Dorothy was born on Feb. 27, 1934, to John and Rosie (Siemek) Bugay in Fullerton. She attended country school through the eighth grade near Fullerton and later worked at Clara’s Café for several years. Dorothy met Johnny Zywiec at a Polish dance at the Pioneer Ballroom in Silver Creek, and the two were united in marriage on Feb. 8, 1955, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Fullerton. They made their home in Fullerton, where they raised their family.

After Johnny’s unexpected passing in 1971, Dorothy continued to care for her children while cleaning homes around town. She remained in Fullerton until 2019, when she moved to Litzenberg Memorial Long-Term Care.

Dorothy loved listening to polka music and watching The Big Joe Polka Show on TV. She always tended to a large garden and enjoyed cooking for her family. Above all, she cherished time spent with her loved ones. She was a devoted member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church and St. Ann’s Altar Society.

She is survived by her son, Joe Zywiec of Red Cloud; grandchildren, Justin (Nicole Wheeler) Zywiec of Red Cloud, Tabitha Zywiec of Minden, and Tene’a Zywiec of St. Louis, Mo.; and greatgrandchildren, Chloe and Kyler.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Johnny; sons, Paul and Russell ‘Ziggy’; her parents; and siblings, brothers, Leonard and Clarence (Mary Ann) Bugay.