Dorothy “Dora” C. Patota (1915-2010)

PATOTA, VESPA, MURPHY, BURRIS, HRAPCINSKI, RUGGEIRO, SMITH, WILKINSON, CARRESCIA

Posted By: Ames Tribune
Date: 5/6/2010 at 21:47:18

THE AMES TRIBUNE, Ames, Story County, Iowa, Thursday, May 6, 2010.

Dorothy “Dora” C. Patota, 94, of Ames, died Sunday, May 2, 2010, at her home in Ames surrounded by family, after an extended illness. Final services are pending in Gainesville, Fla., where burial will take place. Friends may call on the family at home in Ames after 7 p.m. Friday, May 7.

Dora was born May 4, 1915, in Roseto, Pa., to Leonard Carrescia and Carmela Vespa, the second of six children. She married John “Little Jack” Patota of Fall River, Mass.

Dora and Jack made their home in Joliet, Ill., and were the proprietors of a well-known supper club named “Little Jack’s” in Joliet during the 1950s. She practiced her art of homestyle Italian cooking, for which she was well-known by family and friends.

Dora and her husband retired in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., where she resided until relocating to Ames with her daughter, Dee, and family. She played an active role and was a significant caregiver, helping raise her grandchildren and their children. She especially enjoyed crocheting, word puzzles, reading murder mysteries and her dog, Teddy. She was known for making crocheted baby blankets for family and friends. In the past, she used her culinary skills to make Kringla for Burgie’s Espresso Café. She was an active member of St. Cecilia parish.

She is survived by two daughters, Dee (Joe) Murphy, of Ames, and Cecelia (Steve) Burris, of Gainesville, Fla.; one sister, Mary C. Hrapcinski, of Joliet, Ill.; one brother, Phillip Ruggeiro, of Laguna Woods, Calif.; seven grandchildren, Margaret, John and Matthew Murphy, all of Ames, Moira Murphy and Molly Smith, both of Denver, Colo., Josh Murphy, of Kansas City, Mo., and Adam Wilkinson, of Gainesville, Fla.; four great-grandchildren, Kathleen, Cecelia and Charlie Smith, and Aileen Murphy; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack; her parents; two brothers, Victor and Michael Carrescia; and one sister, Anna Carrescia.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Mary Greeley Bliss Cancer Center.

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