Dorothy Agnes Tobey Certalic

On the morning of the 31st of March, 2017, surrounded by loving children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, our Mom, Dorothy Certalic, left this world to embrace her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, whom she faithfully loved and served for 99 years.

Dorothy was born on the 25th of January, 1918 in her Grandmother's home in Brooklyn, NY. Her parents were Marie and Frederick Tobey. The new baby was christened Dorothy Agnes Tobey. There were eleven children in the Tobey family: 8 boys and 3 girls. Dorothy grew up in Plainfield, New Jersey where her father was a key employee at Mack Trucks manufacturing plant in Plainfield. The Tobeys were a dynamic family. Their home vibrated with activity. They owned the last horse in Plainfield, a feisty mustang mare named "Pumpkin".

Dorothy attended St. Mary's School in Plainfield. She was a devout Catholic who had a lifelong love and devotion to Mary, the Mother of God.

The Tobey family had a summer home and property in the then wild Pocono Mountains near Milford, Pennsylvania. They loved their place and there Dorothy and her brothers had numerous adventures with bears and poisonous snakes and an exciting, bare-back ride on a runaway horse!

Dorothy loved her parents and her brothers and sisters, and was especially close to her brother Harold, a Marine veteran of the battle of Guadalcanal in the South Pacific.

Dorothy was a beautiful woman. An athlete, she loved to dance, was an excellent swimmer, played tennis and basketball and was a dead shot with a rifle.

She furthered her education and for awhile was employed by Henry Trefflic in New York City who imported wild animals from Asia and Africa. Again, more adventures!

Later she worked in the court of Judge Kiley in Plainfield where she was valued for her secretarial skills, particularly her "short hand" which was an asset at the trials she attended.

Dorothy experienced the hard times of the Depression. She saw her husband, seven brothers, and her son Michael go off to war.

In 1942, Dorothy met Joseph Certalic, a handsome, young drill Sergeant at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey. They were married and shortly after Joseph shipped out to the Pacific where he took part in the liberation of the Philippines.

Dorothy and Joseph had eight children: five boys and three girls. They were raised in a small home in South Plainfield, NJ. Much occurred during those years. Health problems, tight finances, difficult pregnancies. But our Mom gave us "tons" of love mixed in with gentle discipline. She taught us the importance and centrality of God in our lives.

Though proud of her family and ethnic roots, Dorothy was neither a bigot nor a racist. She recognized the intrinsic value of every person and would not tolerate the use of racial slurs in her children. She lovingly embraced the Hispanic, Native American and African American persons who married into her extended family. She was comfortable praying and studying scripture with people of different faiths.

In 1962, the family moved to Woodglen, NJ where they had a nice home in the country, raised animals, and had a large garden. They became lifelong friends with the Burd and Temples family who had a dairy farm nearby.

In 1970, the family moved to the Gallatin Valley in Montana, a long time goal since Joseph had been a ranger at Glacier Park for awhile after he returned from the war. They were members of Holy Rosary and Resurrection Parishes in Bozeman.

After the children were grown and out on their own, Dorothy returned to school, updated and refreshed her law office skills, and was employed by the law office of Gilbert Lee and later the office of Jim Moore.

She loved animals and was very fond of the German Shepherds she owned and her Arab gelding "Luke". She enjoyed wildlife, from grizzly bears to humming birds, and accompanied her daughter Dorothy on many "birding expeditions". Blue herons and yellow-headed blackbirds were favorites.

Dorothy enjoyed hunting with her sons Alfred and John, and over the years put many antelope, deer, and several elk in her freezer. She killed her last elk when she was 78.

She dealt with suffering and tragedy in her life too. She was preceded in death by most of her family, her grandson Alfred Jr., her son Michael, and her beloved husband, Joseph.

Her last years were spent near Eureka, Montana in the loving care of her youngest daughter, Margaret, and her son-in-law, Jay Stoddard. She got to enjoy the Stoddard ranch where they raised cattle and hay. She caught trout in their pond and relaxed in the nearby gazebo, often in the company of her daughters Dorothy and Margaret.

Dorothy was loved by Jay and Margaret's children and grandchildren. They brought smiles to her face and much happiness. Shortly before her death, she received a special visit from her grandson, Dominic, who loved his grandparents dearly. Perhaps sensing the end, Dominic drove all the way up from Arizona to see his Grandma.

Having lost most of her mobility, Dorothy spent her last days cared for by the kind and loving staff of the Good Samaritan Society Mountain View Manor in Eureka. The staff and clients grew to love her and provided her with the best of care.

Dorothy died held in the loving embrace of her devoted sons, Alfred and John. Dorothy was a remarkable woman, filled with love and the Holy Spirit. She saw only the good in people, was not judgmental, and would speak badly of no one. She will be greatly missed, her memory forever treasured. Thank you, Mom. We love you.

Dorothy is survived by her youngest brother, Robert Tobey, and his wife Lillian in Bound Brook, New Jersey. By her son Joseph, and his wife Edie, of Belgrade, Montana, by her daughter Dorothy and her husband Henry Jorgensen of St. Ignatius, Montana, by her daughter GiGi Marie Kelly of Valois, New York, by her daughter-in-law Sandy Certalic of Bozeman, by her son Alfred and his wife Peggy of Whitehall Montana, by her son John and his wife Sharon of Belgrade, by her daughter Margaret Stoddard and her husband Jay of Eureka, and by her son Fred and his wife Lori of Minot, North Dakota, and by 19 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren.

A Vigil for Dorothy will be held 6:00 p.m., June 15th at Resurrection University Catholic Parish. A Funeral Mass will be conducted 10:00 a.m., June 16th also at Resurrection University Catholic Parish. Condolences and memories may be shared with Dorothy’s family at www.dahlcares.com.