Kulpmont - Dorothy "Dody" Blasco, 87, of Roosevelt Court passed away on Saturday, March 31, 2018 after a brief stay at the  Mount Carmel Senior Living Community.

Born in Hanover Green to the late John and Rose (Minkiewicz) Tryba on January 26, 1931. She attended Hanover Area schools and graduated in 1949.

After graduation, she moved to Tennessee where she had an interesting life.  In the 1950's she met and listened to a young Elvis Presley sing gospel music in a tiny local bar.  When the bar was raided he actually helped to push her out of a bathroom window.  Years later she worked for Lowell Hays Jewelers, who just so happened to become the "Jeweler to Elvis".  She said technically, that made her famous too!

And famous she was to everyone who knew her. She enjoyed a good laugh, knitting, crocheting, sewing, quilting, mowing the grass and four-wheeling with Barbara's boyfriend Dave (yes, we have pictures).  She also had a lovely singing voice.  In the late 1930's she made a record with her two sisters.  The record has since disappeared but her voice never will.  When my sister and I were younger we would sing with Mom while doing the dishes.  We learned harmony, not only in song but in family.  Those are moments you have that you don't realize are special until they're gone.

She was known to dance on a bar or two in her day and we can't count the times someone mentioned her sense of humor or called her the life of the party. She was also the life of our family.  She was dedicated to each and every one of us and stood by us through thick and thin, of which we gave her a lot of both.  She was behind us every step of the way, ready to push us when we needed and catch us if we fell.

She had definite opinions on life and how others should be treated. She told stories about discrimination against her while she was in TN because she questioned why people of color were being treated differently than she was.  She sacrificed a few friendships but stood by her convictions.  She stayed strong.  And she would need that strength throughout her life.  She lost a son at a young age, dealt with health issues and took care of our Dad selflessly when he became ill.  Although she was exhausted, she never gave up and cared for him until he passed.  Afterwards, we were grateful that she had moved to Roosevelt Court where she could now enjoy time for herself.  There were occasions when I couldn't get in touch with her, only to run down to the building and find her whooping it up with her friends on the patio.  Hours and hours of laughing, solving the problems of the world, bird calling and wine tasting, exactly what she deserved.  Even through her own illness her strength never waivered.  She also kept her sense of humor and drive to live until the end.  She went on her own terms.  A true fighter.

To the residents of Roosevelt Court who welcomed our Mom and Dad and who became more than neighbors.  She valued your kindness, friendship, love and support.  She wanted nothing more than to come home to spend one more night on the patio. We wish she could have.

Survivors include daughters Beth Blasco of Breiningsville, PA and Barbara Blasco and her boyfriend Dave Kriesher (who she loved like a son) of Marion Heights; granddaughter, Drisana Lashley and great grandchildren Jalen and Sumaiyah of Neptune City, NJ; grandson, Vaughn Lashley of Breingsville as well as nieces and nephews and their families. In addition to her husband, Gene Blasco and parents she was preceded in death by a son, John Jude Blasco, a brother, John Tryba and two sisters, Esther Piskorski and Louise Raab.

FUNERAL NOTICE

Dorothy "Dody" Blasco, 87, formerly of 1100 Spruce Street, Apt. 118, Kulpmont - Funeral Mass will be held Thursday, April 5, 2018 at 12:30 pm in the Church of the Holy Angels, 855 Scott Street, Kulpmont with Father Andrew Stahmer, officiating.  Burial will be held at 3:00 pm in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville.  Visitation will be held Thursday from 11:30 am until time of mass in the Church of the Holy Angels, 855 Scott Street, Kulpmont, PA.   C.J. Lucas Funeral Home, Inc., 1053 Chestnut Street, Kulpmont, C.J. Lucas, Supervisor is assisting the family with arrangements.