Dorothy Nowicki

PAID OBITUARY
Dorothy Mae Nowicki (nee Humphreys) of Port Washington, devoted mother and loving wife, passed away on Thursday, May 17, 2018, at the age of 95.
All of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews and brother and sister-in-law tended to her during her hospitalization and hospice care.
She died peacefully in the presence of her loving son Michael and youngest daughter Claudia at 11 p.m. at the Lawlis Hospice Center at St. Mary’s Columbia Hospital in Mequon.
Dorothy devoted much of her life to her family as a homemaker.
She was also defined by her Welsh heritage and was a renaissance woman and role model, an inspiration to her family and friends with her artistic gifts, her civic engagement, her avid reading, her involvement in the church, her work and, above all, her ever-constant grace and charm in all circumstances.
Dorothy was born on the east side of Milwaukee. She attended Riverside High School and completed two years of college at Wisconsin State College (now UW-Milwaukee) majoring in art before World War II interrupted her attainment of a degree.
She pursued her artistic talents throughout her life as time allowed, primarily in portraiture and landscapes in the medium of watercolor, pen and pencil, and pastels.
Her work was exhibited at Gallery 224 and Shirley Gruen Studio & Gallery in Port Washington.
She and her husband Ervin E. Nowicki (d.2007) also collaborated on many art projects for the churches and other organizations to which they belonged.
During WWII, she supported the war effort as a factory worker in a number of locations around the country.
After 30 years devoted to homemaking that included professional level work as the family seamstress and baker, she worked as a well-loved manager and buyer for George Watts and Son Inc. for 20 years, where her tact and artistic gifts were highly valued by the store and the public.
Dorothy was a lifelong member of the League of Women Voters of Milwaukee and Ozaukee County, serving as president from 1993 to 1995 and co-president from 1997 to 1999 and secretary, treasurer and action chair.
She told a reporter for the Journal Sentinel in 2001 about her involvement in the LWV: “It was during the McCarthy hearings and got me out of the house to talk with other women about something other than diapers and recipes. I know I would not have read the newspaper as closely if I hadn’t been a league person.”
Her civic engagement also included participation in public demonstrations with her beloved sister, Dilys Spransy, in support of their political beliefs.
She was a dedicated writer of letters to the editor and she remained current and informed as to all issues, local, national and international.
She also maintained membership in her bookclub where she was loved and admired.
Dorothy was the last surviving founding member of the Welsh Club of Milwaukee.
Among other activities, she sang alto in every Gymanfa Ganu she was able to attend.
Her early membership and lifelong connection to the Welsh community were pivotal to her upbringing and helped to inform her faith throughout her life.
This faith was practiced at Westminster Church in Milwaukee and First Congregational Church in Port Washington.
Dorothy is survived by her children Michael of Grafton, Julia (Timothy Sanborn) of Chicago, Joan Werner of Port Washington and Claudia (Robert) Cunningham of Polson, Mont.; grandchildren Anne of Milwaukee, Corinne of Los Angeles, Jessica (Darren Coker) of Campbell, Calif., Julia Werner of St. Louis, John Humphreys Swank of Pleasant Prairie and Madeline Cunningham of Missoula, Mont.; and great-grandchildren Lucy Corcoran and Quinn Corcoran of Milwaukee.
There will be a memorial service at First Congregational Church Church, 131 N. Webster St., Port Washington, on June 30, 2018, at will be at 11 a.m. and the service at noon.
Online condolences may be left at www.eernissefuneralhome.com.
The family suggests memorials to First Congregational Church, 131 N. Webster St., Port Washington WI 53074; the Museum of Wisconsin Art, 360 S. 6th Ave., West Bend WI 53095; the League of Women Voters of Ozaukee County, N57 W5243 Highland Crossing Cir., Cedarburg, WI 53012; or the Welsh Club of Milwaukee (Clwb Cymreig Ardal Milwaukee), milwaukeewelshclub.org.
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Wisconsin’s largest paid circulation community weekly newspaper. Serving Port Washington, Saukville, Grafton, Fredonia, Belgium, as well as Ozaukee County government. Locally owned and printed in Port Washington, Wisconsin.
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