Dorothy Mary Cahoj passed away peacefully on June 19, 2021, at the Good Samaritan Home, in Atwood, KS, at the age of 92 years, 5 months and 15 days. She was born January 4, 1929, in Stratton, NE, to Stanley and Albina (Chvatal) Vrbas.
Dorothy married Louis Cahoj on September 22, 1948. They had three children, Ronald, Collette and LuAnn.
While she was a wonderful wife, mother, grandma and great grandma, Dorothy had many other talents, which she shared with others throughout her life. She was a wonderful cook. Homemade bread, cookies, candy, and pies were always plentiful. She also made the best kolaches ever and always had dozens in the freezer for family and friends. Another talent of Dorothy’s was making and decorating cakes for weddings, birthdays, graduations, and any other occasion a cake was called for. While she made many flavors, her well known favorite was poppy seed. She even received several wedding cake orders from places as far away as Denver, CO. Dorothy also traveled to Tulsa, OK, to make her granddaughter Cami’s wedding cake.
When her daughters Collette and LuAnn were small, Dorothy sewed continuously. She made many matching dresses for her daughters and herself. She saved all the leftover fabric and made a quilt for each of her daughters. Every quilt square portrayed a lady with a hoop skirt holding a parasol made from the leftover fabric. She later made quilts for her two oldest great grandsons, Kobey and Alec, with each square showing a young boy fishing. She once again, used the leftover fabric on the shirts and pants. Dorothy enjoyed crocheting also and made doilies and beautiful bedspreads. Whether she was sewing, making quilts, crocheting, etc., it was always done with perfection.
In addition to all that, she raised and butchered chickens, always had a big garden, and canned all summer long. She milked cows and always helped her husband wherever he needed her on the farm. This ranged from field work, to driving the truck during wheat harvest, chasing cattle or any other farm task imaginable. She cooked big meals for breakfast, dinner and supper and always included hired help and friends. Dorothy was the model farm wife and always made time for anyone who needed help.
Through the challenges of losing her husband in March of 2000, then her daughter LuAnn in September of 2005 and her son Ron in November of 2011, she never lost her faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Her entrance into Heaven has not ended her ministry on Earth. Dorothy’s memory will continue to remind us to “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
Those left to celebrate her life are her daughter Collette Honn; granddaughters, Cami, Anastasia, Megan, and Amanda; grandson Heath; great grandchildren, Kobey, Alec, Gunner, Gehrig and Lexi; along with many extended family, and a multitude of friends, all who will mourn her loss, but cherish the many memories she gave them.
A Funeral Mass will take place at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 24, 2021, at St. John’s Catholic Church, Beardsley, KS, with burial in Sts. Cyril and Methodius Cemetery, rural Rawlins County. Memorials may be made to the Good Samaritan Society, of Atwood and sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For information or condolences visit www.baalmannmortuary.com