Obituary: Dolly Ann Kivela, 91, of Scottville

November 3, 2020

Dolly Kivela

Obituary: Dolly Ann Kivela, 91, of Scottville

Dolly Ann Kivela, 91, of Scottville, passed away Monday, November 2, 2020. She was born May 1, 1929 in Scottville to Matthew and Orpha (Hannah) Urka. She graduated from Scottville High School in 1947 as valedictorian of her class. After high school, Dolly went to work for her family business, Urka Auto, and also for State Savings Bank of Scottville. She met Eino “Rudy” Kivela while working at Urka’s and they were married on September 22, 1949. Together they raised two children.

While the children were young, Dolly was a housewife and mother, and was very involved with her church, St. Jerome parish in Scottville, where she was a member of the St. Helena Society and was a caretaker at the church well into her 80s. Dolly worked at the Mason County Central Middle School office when her children were older, and, in her spare time, she loved growing roses and doing laundry, so much so that she would travel to her grandson’s college in Grand Rapids just to pick up his laundry, wash it, iron it, and take it back to him!

She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. Dolly and her husband Rudy never missed a grandchild’s sporting event. She was a true caregiver, even while a resident at Oakview Medical Care Facility. She always wanted to help and care for those around her.

Dolly will be greatly missed by her children, Larry (Anne) Kivela of Ludington and Gail Bialochowski of Scottville; her grandsons, Jason Bialochowski of Grand Rapids and Ryan (Anna) Bialochowski of Wyoming, Mich.; one great-grandson, Rudy James Bialochowski; her brother, Tom Wicks of Ludington; and her sister-in-law, Dorothy Ann Urka.

Besides her parents, Dolly was preceded in death by her husband, Rudy, and her brother, Robert Urka.

A private service is being held.

Memorial contributions in Dolly’s name may be directed to St. Mary’s Catholic Church or to the Scottville Clown Band Raymond Schulte Scholarship Fund (PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454), who during the Harvest Festival parade would stop in front of her house to serenade her with “Hello Dolly”.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Oak Grove Funeral Home of Ludington.