Dorothy M Strinka

Dorothy (Dottie) McDowell Strinka passed away on February 12, 2023, at the age of 87 in Lakeland, Fl. Dottie was a mother of four, a nurse at Morton Plant Hospital for 14 years, a weight watchers’ lecturer, and a telephone operator before that. She dedicated her life to raising her children and being there for her grandchildren as well as fervently helping others achieve their goals. Her passion was to dote over her dogs, Abby, Amy, Katy, Katy 2, and Karla. She has been the matriarch of this family and will be sorely missed.

One of Dottie’s favorite shows was “Call the Midwife”. At the end of season 12, episode 6, she expressed admiration for the ending monolog:

“Sometimes the faith’s decree that we start our lives afresh. We must forgive where we condemned and seek to amend those things we shattered. Nothing may be perfect again, but there is always beauty somewhere. Hold it close, breathe it in incase it cannot stay. The heart will always find its place. Some call it home, some call it friendship and if we are lucky, we can call it love. Love is a process lifelong burning. A lesson in where we belong and what defines us. An education in the things we cannot measure. A page forever fresh and waiting to be turned.”

She is survived by her two children, John Metzger and Stephanie Toth and two grandchildren Meagan James and Michael Metzger as well as three great grandchildren Ron, Jacob, and Tyler. John resides in Lakeland, FL and Stephanie and her husband, Michael Toth, reside in Suffolk, VA. Meagan and her husband, Ronald James, along with their three children, Ron, Jacob, and Tyler reside in Champion, PA. Michael resides in St. Petersburg, FL. Dottie was preceded in death by her husband Karl Strinka, who passed away on March 28, 2020, at the age of 97 and two children, Debbie Metzger, who passed away on May 10, 1978, at the age of 22 and Shellie Snyder, who passed away in June 12, 2021, at the age of 54.