Dorothy A. Tulko, “Dottie”, age 74, of Lodi, passed away on Tuesday, March 14, 2017.

Dottie was born and raised in Jersey City, the older of Edward and Susan (nee Mras) Kaminski’s two children. She attended William L. Dickinson High School where her kid brother Butch was her greatest ally. You see, Dottie liked to cut school from time-to-time. Of course, she didn’t want her parents to know, and with her brother Butch working in the office, they never did learn of her sneaky ways because Brother Butch would intercept the cards meant to be sent home recording her absence. Despite missing some days, Dottie did graduate with the Class of 1960.

Another fond memory of those teenage years was meeting her husband Joseph. Dottie met him in high school, they dated throughout high school, then married in 1963 at St. Anne’s Church in Jersey City. A couple of years later, Dottie assumed the role of homemaker and mom with the welcomed arrival of a little girl named Jodie who was followed by a little brother Joe a year-and-a-half later.

Dottie lovingly attended to her husband Joe’s needs prior to his untimely passing in 1974 after just eleven years of marriage, but after he died, she was forced to get a job to provide for her two young, growing children. In her search for employment she initially found work as a cocktail waitress at a place called The Captain’s Table in Jersey City. She ultimately settled into a career as a secretary with Roadway Services Trucking Company working at the Carlstadt location. Her stint with Roadway was no mere one as it spanned 50 years and culminated with a 2005 celebratory retirement party at the Pequannock American Legion Hall, put on by family and colleagues.

Dottie’s energetic personality was magnetic, and family and friends loved having her in their lives. One such friend was Kathy Van Cleft, a young lady Dottie met way back in the 1960’s. She and Dottie enjoyed lots of happy times including vacations with their families down the Jersey shore in Point Pleasant. They made quite a pair, often comparing themselves to Lucy (Kathy) and Ethel (Dottie) from the “I Love Lucy” television show. Dottie loved having her family gathered for the holidays and ham and kielbasa were the traditional favorites served on Christmas Eve. She always spent as much time as possible with her children, grandchildren, brother and sister-in-law and nieces and nephews. A crafty individual, she excitedly crocheted angel Christmas tree toppers for everyone’s tree and she took great joy in knitting scarves and blankets for all her grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Without a doubt, Dottie’s favorite pastime was probably testing her luck in Atlantic City. This love of chance began as a child when she learned how to gamble playing a board game called Pokeno. It progressed to nights with family and friends playing poker, black jack and twenty-one at home. Dottie loved that these game nights always involved the chance to win cash as a wager was always part of the fun. When visiting the casinos in Atlantic City, usually with her brother Butch, Dottie’s choice method was pulling the lever on the slot machines and, over the years, there were some thrilling moments when the machine spewed forth a winning tally of cash!

Those who knew and loved Dottie will miss the distinct sound of her voice, her typical bluntness – you always knew how she felt - and her inner and outward strength that was always an inspiring influence.

Dottie was the loving mom of Jodie Quinn and Joseph Tulko; cherished grandmother of Shannon, Joseph, Melody, Ricky, and Alex; dear sister of Butch and wife Trish Kaminski; and dear aunt of Eddie Kaminski, Jr., Kelly and husband Jason Spieser, and Amanda Kaminski. She was predeceased by her beloved husband Joseph in 1974, and her dear son-in-law Michael Quinn in 2017.