Dorie Krask

Mrs. Doris Bernadette ”Dorie” Kreyche Krask, of Frederick passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at Heartfield’s of Frederick at the age of 95.

“Dorie” or “Nana” as she was forever known to family, friends, children and grandchildren, was born on March 11, 1929, the youngest of five children of the late Harold and Henrietta Kreyche in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Her parents predeceased her, as did her beloved three older brothers Bob, Bud and Gerry as well as her adored only sister, Ellie. Dorie was the last surviving sibling of her original Kreyche family.

Dorie attended Loyola University in Chicago until she became engaged to Bernard “Bernie” Krask. They were married on August 16, 1952 at St. Bartholomews Church in Chicago, Illinois. They relocated to Frederick when Bernie was offered a position as a microbiologist at Fort Detrick and later at the National Institute of Health. He predeceased her on October 01, 2011. She was also recently predeceased by her sister-in-law, Aldona Kohn.

Dorie was a wife, mother, grandmother and newly-minted great grandmother. She was everlastingly a devoted mother and number one personal cheerleader of each and every one of her five children throughout every day of their lives until her own very last days. She is survived by her eldest daughter Liz (George), her eldest son Dave (Lesley), daughter Karen (John), son Bob (Kim) and her youngest son, Peter. She was an unfailingly proud grandmother of her seven grandchildren, Evan, Karena, Matt, Dylan, Julie, MaryRose and Elias and found immense joy in cherishing and nurturing her relationships with all of them from birth and through their young adulthoods. She found tremendous satisfaction as well for many years, when she would come out as the victor in marathon and hard fought card-playing competitions with those grandchildren and her sister-in-law.

One of the last great blessings for Nana in her final years was to see and meet her first great- grandchildren, Liya Helen Sheldon, Niko Tsakiris Asano and Callum Paul Navin. She found great delight in the new gifts of life these children brought her, as her own life was coming to a close.

Nana in earlier days worked as an administrative assistant for several years at Walkersville High School and then for Frederick Community College, in those same capacities in FCC’s Registrar’s Office. She retired at the age of 75 from FCC. It was at Walkerville where she met her wonderful and completely devoted friends to the end of her life, Gen Yeager and Peggy Drenning. Likewise, she nurtured many lifelong friendships from her FCC days and had an overwhelming abundance of close friends throughout the Frederick community as well, almost all of whom had predeceased her. Not a day went by that Nana didn’t receive an influx of cards and letters much to the continuing amazement of all five of her children and consternation from some who had to persuade her to let go of one or two cards and letters on the ever-growing pile in a “clear the clutter” campaign on occasion.

Nana was a lifelong and devout Catholic, and it was that strength drawn from her faith, that sustained her through some of life’s more difficult and trying times. When younger, she was an avid gardener, reader and active member and lifelong volunteer at St. John’s Catholic Church with her beloved friends Ceil Costlow and Sister Margaret. In 2021 she became a member of St. Katherine Drexel parish as well. Nana has requested that any memorial donations be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society at St. Katherine’s.

Nana was given a great gift of love and adoration in her final years, and throughout her life from her many adult nieces and nephews (and their spouses) spread far and wide across the
country who kept in constant loving contact with her, some of whom had lost their own parents (her siblings) at very early ages. We are so grateful to all of you now and to those who have passed away for showering our Mother with your kindnesses and love. It brought Nana profound joy to become the Kreyche Family Matriarch and torch bearer.

Nana resided at Heartfields of Frederick in recent years and was much-loved by staff and residents alike, including her table mates Jane, Ellie and Betty. There are no words to express our family’s sincere and wholehearted gratitude and appreciation to each and every single member of the Heartfields Community for their unfailing commitment to caring for and loving Nana as much as they would their own family member, while she was a resident there. We are grateful beyond measure.

The Krask Family will host a Receiving of Friends on Thursday, September 26th at Keeney and Basford Funeral Home at 106 East Church Street in Frederick, Maryland from 4-7 pm. A Catholic Funeral Mass will be held on September 27th at St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church at 118 E. 2nd Street in Frederick, Maryland at 11 am. All friends and family are welcome to a final gathering from 2:30-5:30 pm after the funeral at 5041 Judicial Way in the Westview South Clubhouse.

There will be no graveside services. Nana will have her inurnment at a later date with a private family gathering at Arlington National Cemetery to lay at rest with her husband Bernie. May she rest in peace. Amen.