Dorothy Mae Breza

Aug. 1, 1928-Jan. 7, 2013

Dorothy Mae Breza, 84, of Rochester (formerly of Winona), passed away at Methodist Hospital Jan. 7, 2013.

Dorothy Mae Gappe was born Aug. 1, 1928, in Bluff Siding, Wis., to August and Cecilia (Pellowski) Gappe. She was a lifelong resident of Winona until moving to Rochester in 1992. She married Eugene "Gene" R. Breza on Oct. 8, 1946, at St. Casimir's Catholic Church in Winona. She was a member of the Catholic Daughters, a lay-minister of the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Winona, and volunteered as an auxiliarian at Rochester Methodist Hospital for many years. She was a homemaker, and was employed at the hot lunch program at the Cathedral School in Winona. For 17 years, she also worked at the Cathedral Rectory.

Dorothy is survived by three sons, Steve (Kathy) Breza of Kasson, Jeffrey (Barbara) Breza of Winona and James (Sonja) Breza of Winona; one daughter, Michele Breza of Vernon Center, Minn.; a daughter-in-law, Ruth Breza of Kasson; nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Gene; a son, Dennis; a grandson, Justin James Breza; her mother, Cecilia; her father, August; two brothers, Daniel and Harold; a sister, Ruth Gruber; a nephew, Robert Gruber; and two nieces, Phyllis Gruber and Jeanette Gruber.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 11, 2013, at Pax Christi Catholic Church in Rochester with Rev. Paul Nelson officiating and Rev. Dean Marek co-officiating. Visitation will be held two hours prior to the Mass at Pax Christi. Burial will be in Fort Snelling National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the family.

"Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God's love commits me here; Ever this day, be at my side, to light, to guard, to rule and guide."

Macken Funeral Home is handling the arrangements, and online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com.