Dorothy Marie Petru, 81, of Hallettsville passed away Monday October 6, 2008. She was born on March 21, 1927 to Jim J. & Adolfina Urbish Smolik in Worthing, Texas. She was also a member of KJZT and Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Dorothy attended Vysherad School, gradating and attending Balwins Business College in Yoakum for 2 years. She worked for her uncle William Janak at Janak Armature Works winding the armature with copper. She also worked at Weingartens, Tex Tan, Better Beverages and retiring at Kasper Wire Works. There wasn't a job she wouldn't tackle.

On May 9, 1951, Dorothy married Rudy Petru at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Hallettsville. Together they had 7 daughters and 3 sons. They shared their love of music by teaching all to dance and play musical instruments. She also taught all to cook, girls and boys alike. She was proud of each one of them.

Dorothy enjoyed fishing, bingo, cooking, dancing and gardening. She could make any plant grow. She also loved to gamble, going with Rudy and relaxing. She enjoyed traveling in her late years with her children. Together Rudy and Dorothy earned their armature radio operators license and built radios by themselves, once they put all kids to bed.

They shared many common interests that helped their love for one another endure for 57 years.

Dorothy is survived by: her husband Rudie; 3 sons, Patrick Petru of Victoria, Anthony Petru of Hallettsville, and Mark Petru & wife Lori of Yoakum; 7 daughters, Donna Petru of Warner Robins, GA, Delores Rivera & husband Ricky of Katy, Joyce Hanzel & husband Kenneth of Moulton, Jeanette Boedeker & husband David of Shiner, Grace Kloppenburg & husband Robert of Hallettsville, Elrose Ehler & husband Harvey of Hallettsville, and Bridget Pecikonis & husband Scott of Fort Worth; sister Cecilia Bujnoch of Hallettsville; 13 grandchildren, Kevin Boedeker, Kyle Boedeker, Kody Boedeker, Amy Rivera, Stacey Rivera, Lesly Bujnoch, Dawn Vinklarek, Baron Hanzel, James Petru, Justin Petru, Brittany Petru, Thomas Barnes, and Megan Barnes; and 3 great granddaughters, Kala Bujnoch, Braylee Bujnoch, and Abby Bujnoch.

Dorothy was preceded in death by: parents; brother Jimmie V. Smolik; and sister Margaret Filip.

Service: 10 am, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2008, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Hallettsville . Visitation: 1 pm, Tuesday at Kubena Funeral Home. Rosaries: 7 pm, Tuesday at Kubena Funeral Home; and 9:30 am, Wednesday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Pallbearers: Kevin Boedeker, Kyle Boedeker, Kody Boedeker, James Petru, Thomas Barnes, and Baron Hanzel. Officiate: Rev. John Peters. Burial: Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery. Memorials: American Cancer Society.