Dorothy Jane “Doree” Kanishak, 85, passed away Wednesday at Sharon Regional Health System, Sharon, after a brief illness. She had been a resident of John XXIII Home in Hermitage. Prior to that, she lived in Butler.

Doree was born in Lyndora on Jan. 2, 1926, to Walles and Julia Benko Kanishak.

While Doree was born with visible deformities and was not expected to live, she not only survived, but thrived, refusing to accept her disabilities. She spent several years at the D.T. Watson Home for Crippled Children where her infectious smile won her many friends. Doree's first and favorite job was that of elevator operator at the Nixon Hotel in Butler. She shared many stories about life at the Nixon and the wonderful people she met. In later years, Doree went to Western Pennsylvania Business School, where she studied shorthand and typing, and learned how to operate the business machines of that era.

Doree enjoyed music, especially polka music, and was a delightful whistler. She spent countless hours doing various types of needlecraft, such as embroidery, crocheting and needlepoint. Her artistic talents also extended to making ceramics and beaded jewelry, all of which she gave as gifts to friends and family. She mastered the art of creating exquisite Ukrainian Easter eggs, a tradition handed down to her from her mother.

Doree will always be remembered for her sunny disposition, welcoming smile and her kind, caring and loving ways. She was a joy to all who met her and she will be sadly missed and forever loved.

Surviving are her nieces, Nancy (Michael) Ristvey and Carol (Gerald) Surrena of Hermitage, Sharon Shepard of Toledo, Ohio, and Shirley Worobieff of California; and nephews, Richard A. Kanishak of Bradenton, Fla., Stanley R. Goleb of Hermitage and John J. Goleb of Mercer.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Andrew Kanishak; and her sisters, Helen Bernoir, Mary Binder and Margaret Goleb.

<B>KANISHAK</B> — Friends of Dorothy Jane “Doree” Kanishak, who died Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011, will be received at the <B>Geibel Funeral Home</B>, 201 E. Cunningham St., Butler, from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. The Rev. Robert Oravetz will officiate. Entombment will follow in the Mausoleum of Calvary Cemetery, Butler.