Dorothy "Dottie" (Steffancin) Dunlap

Dorothy “Dottie” Dunlap, age 97, passed away May 16, 2025. Born January 19, 1928. She will be remembered with great adoration by many and for her big “BEAR HUGS” that will have to last us our lifetime. We know why she lived so long…. she was humble and kind and had a positive outlook on life, and had many angels around her.

 Dottie worked at the family business, Custom Rubber as a bookkeeper and later for Avery Dennison as an executive secretary for many years before retirement.  Dottie’s life-long hobby was gardening which she enjoyed up to her last day with us. Her greatest joy was her family and attending family functions and especially by being in attendance and cheering on her grandchildren and great grandchildren. You would think her favorite attire was wearing a collection of team ball caps and worn-out school mascot sweatshirts from the kids’ different teams from a span of over forty years. She was a sports enthusiast and loved her family’s competitive nature. Basketball, track, softball, baseball, football, golf, bowling, cornhole and more. She also loved traveling with family and friends and one of her greatest times shared was abroad with her brother and sister-in-law though she also loved to fish and could rough it from Canada family camping vacations or fishing trips to Piedmont Lake.

The amazing thing about Dorothy was not just her longevity. It was her enthusiasm she approached each day with. She was creative, and wise, and loved the birds, and nature, and she loved to bake and eat her way “around Lake County” with family and friends and every day was a celebration. In her early chapter of her life she married a young widower, Glen Dunlap who had three children. They became her children and she, their mother. Later, she and Glen had their daughter, Laurie, giving Glenda, Dan, and Darryl a sister to complete this family. No one was a step-child.  She loved her family deeply and there are deep generations extended from this cherished woman.

She had great love and honor for our country, our flag, our constitution, and our service men and women. She was especially proud that much of her family served our country. She understood history, and has been a great teacher to our family and she has always been an avid reader, staying abreast of current events.  Furthermore, her years in volunteering, speaking engagements, digging in the dirt, at the historical gardens like the Moreland Mansion, and the Lake County Historical Society, and being a Lake County Master Gardner is where she loved, admired, and fostered her friendships – her gardening friends became her beautiful extended family.  She harvested the love she sowed throughout her life. Her gardens were where we witnessed her smiles and laughter.

Dottie grew many beautiful gardens and shared her knowledge with everyone. Dottie’s involvement in mentoring others as a Lake County Master Gardner was fulfilling, and you could find her pruning and guiding all through Lake County and guiding others on what to plant, where to plant it, and how to prune it. She rarely missed an opportunity at the Lake County Historical Society to volunteer, helping to maintain the planting around the facility.  She looked forward to her monthly luncheons with her dear friends and was always known to wear one of her signature gardening caps.

You may read this and know that Dottie created fun cards on her computer – everyone got one and they were witty and wise and special on your birthday, Christmas or a celebratory occasions.

As a child of the Depression, nothing was ever wasted, and Dottie could find a use for anything. She was smart, and wise, and handy at fixing things and you could find her wielding a hammer, tarring a roof, using a greasing tool, or thawing a frozen pipe. She was the ultimate multi-tasker and every family member had the benefit of her “get it done” attitude.

In lieu of donations or flowers, we would like to suggest that Dottie would want you to go dig in the dirt, get your hands dirty, soak up the sunshine, plant some seeds, plant a tree or perennial.  Grow something in her memory. Go create your own special garden and friendship with the outdoors, the birds, the butterflies and the honeybees.  Take time to continue her legacy of care and teach a child the importance and love for gardening, family, and friendships and being a good neighbor.  Share kindness with others.     

Dorothy is survived by sister Joan LeBar, daughter, Glenda Nease, sons, Daniel (Dorothy “Lu”) Dunlap, Darryl (Rhonda) Dunlap, daughter, Laurie (Mike) Hejduk. Grandchildren, Brian (Kim) Nease, Craig (Kim) Nease, Lisa Dunlap, Justin Dunlap, Douglas Dunlap, Gregory (Susan) Dunlap, Lonna (Mike) Mayer, Carmen (Jim) Ettinger, Derrick (Jennifer) Terriaco. Great grandchildren, Aiden, Britton, Cambden, Cole, Camryn, Ashely, Austin, Jackson, Mason, Carson, Lawson, Lacey, Brooklyn, Ellie, Diane, Jacob, Adam, Kaden, Dustin, Steven, Kaelin, and great-great grandchildren, Stanley, Valerie, Aiden, Ace, and Cain.

Dorothy Dunlap is preceded in death by parents, George and Julia Steffancin, siblings, Bill Steffancin, Mary Ann & Bob Krejci, Tom & Mary Steffancin, George Steffancin Jr., and brother-law, Hal LeBar, and daughter-law, Diane Dunlap, and son-in-law, Harold Nease

Family and friends will be received at Spear Mulqueeny Funeral Home, 667 Mentor Ave., Painesville Ohio 44077, Friday May 23rd from 1-3 pm and 5-7 pm.  Funeral Service following calling hours Friday at 7:00 pm. Interment will be private family only.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Dorothy "Dottie" (Steffancin) Dunlap, please visit our floral store.