Sandra Kay Dolinar

Sandra Kay (née Michaluk) Dolinar, age 74, passed away in Brownstown Township, Michigan on August 30, 2022 while in the care of Hospice at home.

After her most recent hospitalization, Sandy had made the decision to return home on Good Friday, 2022, under Hospice home care. Their compassionate care was a comfort to her and all of us throughout these months. Most importantly honoring her wish to be at home; sharing old memories and making new ones with her entire family by spending time together, a precious and wonderful gift she gave to us all. Her loving husband of nearly 53 years, Dennis Dolinar, was at her side when she passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday afternoon.

Beloved wife of Dennis Dolinar, loving mother of three children - Brian Dolinar, Jamie (Shelley née Frank) Dolinar, and Dayna (Steve) Peterson. Cherished Grammie of five grandchildren - Mary, Julia, and Eva Dolinar, and Madi and Ben Peterson. Dearest sister of Cindy (Terry) Broome, and Mark Michaluk. A caring aunt to many nieces and nephews. She was grateful that she grew up with literally hundreds of cousins in both North Dakota and here in Michigan. Sandy was preceded in death by her parents Eugene and Frances (née Duletski) Michaluk.

Sandy was born on May 9, 1948 in Detroit and raised as a true West Sider, living in Dearborn Heights, Michigan. She graduated from Crestwood High School in Dearborn Heights, Michigan in 1966, a member of the first graduating from that high school. She then attended the Harper Hospital School of Nursing in Detroit, Michigan. She graduated from the nursing school program in 1968 and became a Registered Nurse. She wore her nursing cap and pin proudly, caring for the health of her patients, friends, and family throughout her entire life.

Sandy and Dennis were married on October 4, 1969 at St. Linus Catholic Church in Dearborn Heights, Michigan, literally around the corner from her parents’ house. As they started their married lives together, Sandy joined Dennis as an East Sider when they moved to then-brand-new Kingsley Apartments in Sterling Heights in 1969. Dennis was employed at the Chrysler Warren Stamping Plant in Warren, Michigan as a Diemaker, and Sandy was working at Bi-County Community Hospital in Warren, Michigan as an obstetrics nurse in the Labor and Delivery Department.

Sandy and Dennis continued living in Sterling Heights, having built their first home right across the street from the Kingsley Apartments and moved there in April, 1972. As one of the first homeowners on Royal Drive, they came to know many of their neighbors over the years. These neighbors became family and remain an important part of all of our lives to this day.

Sandy’s kindness and compassion were a foundation of her Catholic faith and her nursing skills. Before there was Google, friends and family and neighbors relied on her medical experience and expertise which was just a phone call away or a walk down the street.

As their children were born, Sandy continued her nursing career at Bi-County Hospital, but transitioned into a new role as part-time evening instructor of Prenatal Classes for expectant mothers. For many years, even after her retirement from nursing, Sandy would run into proud mothers who had been part of her prenatal classes and she was able to meet their children. This continued Sandy’s legacy of nursing and caregiving into future generations.

Through her life, Sandy was active in her home parish of St. Blase Catholic Church in Sterling Heights, Michigan. After her retirement from nursing in 1990, Sandy continued her lifelong service by being a member of the Parish Nursing and Funeral Luncheon Ministries, having previously been active as a religious education catechism teacher for her children and their classmates. Dennis retired from Chrysler in 2007 after 39 years with the company.

Sandy and Dennis continued to enjoy their retirement in their Sterling Heights home as their first two of five grandchildren were born in 2008. They hosted family functions, holidays, and impromptu summer pool parties, always with vegetables from their backyard gardens or a treat of fresh peaches off their trees.

They sold their family home and moved downriver to Brownstown Township, Michigan just before Christmas, 2017. The move brought them nearby to their daughter, Dayna and her family, and also an hour closer to their son, Jamie and his family, who now lived in Ohio, where he continues his career as a watchmaker. Their eldest son, Brian, continues to reside in Macomb Township, Michigan, which became a destination when Mom and Dad came to visit him and friends in the old neighborhood.

Sandy and Dennis celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in October, 2019, with a celebration of friends and family, many of whom had attended their wedding in 1969. A special treat was a display of Sandy’s wedding dress, which was handmade by her mother, Frances, a skilled seamstress who also made the bridesmaids’ dresses. Both of Sandy’s eldest granddaughters, Madi Peterson and Mary Dolinar, then both age 11, were able to wear the wedding dress. It was a beautiful sight and a connection to their great-grandmother, Frances, who had passed away in 1986, before they were born.

Sandy inherited her love of crafting from her mother and shared those skills and passion for them along with her younger sister, Cindy. Sewing, quilting, and crocheting came easily to them both thanks to their mother. Sandy shared her sewing skills with her grandchildren by making their costumes for many years as Halloween became one of our family’s new traditions throughout the fall season. She later enjoyed cardmaking and coloring, always able to multi-task while keeping her hands busy while she visited with family and friends. The grandchildren enjoyed the time working on all of these projects with their grandmother and have continued to grow their skills and continue the legacy of their beloved Grammie.

Sandy’s crafting and abilities tied with her love of seasonal decorating at both the old and new houses. A warm and welcoming home for friends and family was always a loving gift to share, especially during the Christmas season. Her sewing skills continued her husband’s Dolinar family Christmas tradition of handmade personalized stockings, which had been started by her mother-in-law, Elfrieda (née Zuelch) Dolinar and her Ladies Lutheran Church Sewing Circle in the 1950s and now span four generations of the extended Zuelch family. A special Duletski family tradition, which honored her parents’ Polish and Ukrainian heritage, was when she and the entire family would make pierogi by hand by the hundreds. Many were frozen for future meals, but always carefully counted per person when it came time to serve them as a special treat.

Visitation for Sandy Dolinar will be held on Sunday, September 11, 2022 from 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Trenton Chapel of The Martenson Family of Funeral Homes located at 3200 West Road, Trenton, Michigan, 48183.

During the Visitation on Sunday, there will be two special services to honor important aspects of Sandy’s life: the Nurse Honor Guard will be performing the Nightingale Tribute at 5:30 p.m., and a Scripture Service by will be held at 7:00 p.m. by Dr. Mary Dumm, Pastoral Associate from St. Blase Catholic Church.

The Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Monday, September 12, 2022 at St. Francis Cabrini Catholic Church located at 9000 Laurence Avenue, Allen Park, Michigan, 48101.

Sandy will lie in repose at St. Francis Cabrini Catholic Church starting at 11:30 a.m. until the time of Mass being celebrated at 12 Noon. Sandy will be cremated at a later date in a private ceremony.

Sandy will be greatly missed by everyone who knew and loved her.

In lieu of flowers, the family is accepting donations to honor Sandy with a commemorative memorial brick paver to be placed in the new Memorial Garden at her home parish of St. Blase Catholic Church in Sterling Heights, Michigan.

Please visit Sandy’s online tribute wall to share memories and leave condolences for her family.