Dorothy (Walsh) Donauer

Dorothy Rita (Walsh) Donauer

November 27, 1922 – April 23, 2025

Dorothy Rita “Dottie” Donauer, née Walsh, died on April 23, 2025, in Homosassa, Florida. She was 102. Dottie is survived by her daughters Doreen Cosentino, Dorothy Sweeney (James Barnett, partner), and Karen (John) Skaro; her grandchildren Aaron Sweeney, Caterina (Michael) Natalia, Sean Sweeney, Domenick (Megan Gilbert) Cosentino, Richard (Lisa) Cosentino, and Michael (Caralyn Green) Cosentino; her great-grandchildren Thomas, Michael, Grace, Sebastian, Joseph, Neva, Cameron, and Sasha; her niece, Nita Kasan; and her nephew, James John Kasan. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 56 years, John Michael “Johnny” Donauer; her sister, Loretta Bowers; and her sons-in-law Richard Cosentino and Vincent Sweeney.

Dottie was born in Pittsburgh on Nov. 27, 1922, to James and Anna Jean, née Franklin, Walsh. As a teenager during the Great Depression, she worked to support the family at Dudt’s Bakery, where she met Johnny, a co-worker whose sister, Helen, made the introduction. Dottie and Johnny were both immediately smitten, and they were married on June 26, 1942, beginning a wonderful life together. Not long afterward, Johnny went off to serve in World War II. After the war, Dottie and Johnny settled in Pittsburgh’s Sheraden neighborhood, in a ranch house on Fairdale Street, where they raised Doreen, Dorothy, and Karen, living happily until Johnny’s death in 1999. Dottie eventually moved in with Karen and her husband, John, in 2008. She moved with them to Lecanto, Florida, in 2018. To know Dottie was to know what a joyfully affectionate and unabashedly sweet, generous person she was. She always made her daughters feel special, attending their school activities with pride. She doted cheerfully on her grandchildren—much to their delight—and it wasn’t uncommon for her grandchildren to negotiate with playful aggressiveness over the timing of a few days’ “vacation” with Johnny and Dottie, whom the family affectionately referred to as “Ace” and “Elf”. Dottie’s grandchildren knew her as “Gram” or “Mama,” and her great-grandchildren knew her as “GG.” She went about her day with a spring in her step and a song on her lips. Her blue eyes sparkled, and she often said her greatest gift was giving a smile to someone. She liked to say that if she had a million dollars, she’d give it all away.

Dottie was particularly skillful at sewing. She cross-stitched quilts for her daughters and often made clothes and matching dresses for them and herself, including the bridesmaid dresses for each of her daughters’ weddings. She lovingly prepared bountiful holiday meals and was masterful at canning tomatoes and yellow wax beans from Johnny’s backyard garden.

Dottie’s true passion was baking—her cookies, cakes, pastries, and pies were legendary, and no one has ever baked a better pie crust. No family meal at Dottie’s table was complete without her delectably soft and buttery dinner rolls. She once won a $5 prize from Roto Magazine for winning The Pittsburgh Press newspaper’s weekly baking contest. She could have opened her own bakery; her family instead had the great fortune of being her only customers.

Dottie enjoyed square dancing and was the treasurer of the local square dance club. She also loved attending church and novena services at Holy Innocents Parish in Sheraden. She cherished correspondence and constantly hand-wrote letters, cards, and thank you notes in the clearest cursive imaginable. At that kitchen table on Fairdale Street, over a cup of coffee and a slice of one of her delicious pies or a few of those scrumptious cookies, Dottie was a wonderful storyteller. Her favorite flower was the yellow rose—the style of the first bouquet Johnny bought for her. Across 102 years of an incredibly beautiful life, Dottie’s blue eyes never lost that familiar twinkle.

We can still hear Dottie pleasantly singing “A Bushel and a Peck” from Guys and Dolls. When she left us, the world became a bit less bright and mirthful. It is comforting to think that Dottie is now reunited in spirit at long last with her beloved Johnny—the Ace and the Elf, together again, now and for all time.

A private burial service will be held on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery in Moon Township, PA. Dottie’s family misses her dearly and will remember her fondly forever. Arrangements by the William F. Conroy Funeral Home, Inc., Sheraden. 412-331-5192

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Dorothy (Walsh) Donauer, please visit our floral store.