Dolores Irene Centala
Sept. 21, 1931 - April 28, 2026
Dolores Centala
CENTALA, DOLORES IRENE, much more familiarly known as “Dolly”, age 94, of Rogers City passed peacefully and serenely into the loving and welcoming arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and our Blessed Mother Mary, on April 28, 2026. She died at her meticulously kept and precious home of more than 60 years in the comforting and adoring presence of her three daughters, Julie Geno, Roberta Viegelahn, and Kathy Centala. Her passing was the result of advanced age and numerous infirmities through which she courageously suffered and finally surrendered to during the past several years. Dolly was born in Detroit, Michigan to Frances and Stella (Malopolski) Geromette on Sept. 21, 1931. Dolly successfully and competently wore many hats during her 94 plus years as a truly faithful creation of Our Heavenly Father and as an incredibly passionate “Catholic” witness to everyone she encountered. Following her high school education, Dolly embarked on what was going to prove to be her first and always foremost vocation, her steadfast and constant devotion to her family, most especially to her beloved husband of 66 years, Robert “Bob” Centala, who predeceased her on February 13, 2017. Bob and Dolly were married on Feb. 24, 1951, with the marriage being sanctified and blessed by the Rev. Kenneth Povish at St. Ignatius Catholic Church in Rogers City. And blessed it was! From 1952 thru 1963, Bob and Dolly lovingly and selflessly created eight children. Those eight children and their respective spouses or significant others have left the following loving legacy of 116 descendant souls who survive Dolly: Her seven (7) children (as well as their respective spouses/significant others): Michael (Karen) and former daughter-in-law, Diane Hale, former daughter in law Nancy (Scott), Julie (Gary) Geno, Kirk (Sherry), Andrew (Jane), Roberta (Mark) Viegelahn, Kathy (Mike) Vroman, and Robert “Butts” (Darcy); Her (35) grandchildren, Angela (Anthony), Leandra (Jeff), Michael, Jerilyn “J.J.”, Jason (Nikki), Nancy (Adam), Joshua (Jenni), Naomi, Joanna “Annie” (Aaron), Nikki, Jessica (Matt), Jennifer “Jenny” (Scott), Mikailah, Aaron, Andrea (Towan), Andrew (Marcie) Gabrielle (Tom), Zachary (Kaitlin), Dylan (Sydney), Sierra, Casey, Corey (Cat), Kyle (Emily), Kristina (Evan), Erica, Jenna, Dana (Bernard), Cheyenne, Brooke (Kevin), Robert “R.J.” (Megan), Leah, Marrissa, Dakota, Hailey, and Allison; Her sixty-seven (67) great-grandchildren: Logan, Jalen, Mason, Isaiah, Lucy, Charlotte, Gemma, Ethan, Ezra, Hezekiah, Isaiah, Braylon, Grace, Makenna, Michael, Ricardo (Ricki), Eden (Carl), Brianna, Kylee, Makenna, Evan, Hally, Estella, Guinevere, Beckett, Audrey, Townsend, Olivia, Matthew, Megan, Jacob, Isaac, Ainsley, Nevaeh, Cadence, Joshua, Connor, Ava, Mya, Mia, Emma, Lila, Clare, David, Felix, Vera Dolores, Chloe, Clarah, Colton, Cora, Aiden, Kirra, Brooke, Jack, Liam, Ariel, Xavier, Paisley, Zellie, Sylvester, Ignatius, Evangelina, Agnes, Jaidyn, Kai, Harper, and Ireland: And finally, her seven (7) great-great-grandchildren: Zekai (Logan & Zaire); Ezekiel, Isaiah,
Eliam, and Noah (Eden & Carl); and, Fletcher and Cooper (father, Ben). Dolly also leaves behind her only surviving sister, Sandra Geromette, her sister-in-law Betty (Herb) Derry, and special friends, Ellie Rygwelski and Bobbi Urlaub.
Dolly was preceded in death by her husband Robert, her son Scott, her parents, Francis and Stella, a sister, Joyce, grandchildren Jessica, Joshua and Jocelin, and many friends and fellow parish members from St. Ignatius Catholic Church.
To support this amazingly prolific procreation, Dolly was a tireless and dedicated housewife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great great grandmother from the birth of her first child in 1952 until just recently when she became hospitalized and unable to “completely and personally manage” all household affairs any longer because of the increasing and unbearable severity of her 94 year-old body’s numerous aches and pains. As a matter of indisputable fact with regard to ANY of her home management tasks, all of her children, especially her daughters, will surely attest that it was Dolly’s way or not at all regarding any home activity! However, notwithstanding her 24/7 concern and loving labor over the past 75 years with regard to successfully raising 8 children and ensuring that they were always fed and clothed in spite of some rare but occasionally challenging times, Dolly also was a truly active, devout, and faithful member of St. Ignatius Catholic Church, having at one time or another during her last seven decades engaged in the following church related activities: many years of continuous and regular rectory service to several priests as housekeeper, cook, and laundress; Ministry to the Homebound (regularly visiting people for prayer and delivery of Holy Communion at their home, Medilodge, or similar facility); St. Ignatius Rosary Society; Prayer and Praise Group; and DAILY visitations to St. Ignatius for candle lighting and to pray the Stations of the Cross and the Holy Rosary to the Blessed Virgin Mary seeking divine intercession for family, friends, and anybody she knew or heard of that was in need of healing.
In summary, Dolly lived a truly full and enriched life and really blessed all those she came into contact with by her sincere compassion for their well being and her deep and daily inspirational WITNESS as a truly faithful and devoted Catholic and servant to our Almighty Father, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and the Blessed Mother Mary. She will indeed be surely missed but we will love her forever!
Visitation is at the Beck Funeral Home on Friday, May 1, 2026 from 3-8 p.m., with rosary at 6:30 p.m., followed by a parish wake service at 7 p.m. Mass is at St. Ignatius Catholic Church, Saturday, May 2, 2026, at 10 a.m., with the Rev. Father Charlie Donajkowski presiding.
Online condolences may be addressed through www.beckfuneralhome.org.