Dolores "Dodie" Coviak, age 91, died peacefully in the early morning hours of September 11, 2021, in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Dodie was born in Ferndale, Michigan, to Elmer and Cecelia (Markl) Banwart. Her beloved husband Norbert Coviak died in 1993. Dodie is survived by her sister Shirley Thornton of Florida; son Robert Coviak (Stephanie) of Ohio; daughter Sharon Coviak (Patrick) of Virginia; seven grandchildren and great grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Dodie grew up in Michigan, except for a couple years when her family lived in Missouri on a farm near relatives. She lived in Lansing for fifty years until 2019, when she moved to Ohio after suffering health complications from a fall.

Dodie enjoyed a career as an administrative assistant, developing lifelong friendships with coworkers and indulging her love of writing and language along the way. She began her career in 1947 as assistant to the principal of Birmingham High School after graduating from the school that same year. Later, she attended Lansing Community College and continued her career in Lansing at the Strelinger Industrial Supply Co. and then at McLaren Health Care. She retired from McLaren in 1998 after nearly two decades of service. In retirement she volunteered at McLaren for several years, providing pastoral care visits to patients and helping patients' families while they stayed at the hospital's McRee Guest House. She attended Grand Ledge First United Methodist Church, where she served as a greeter.

Dodie was devoted to her family and friends and especially enjoyed traveling with them. Italy was a favorite destination. She was delighted to complete "bucket list" trips with family to NYC to attend a performance at the Metropolitan Opera House and to Key West. During a family wedding trip, her adventurous streak motivated her at age 79 to zipline for the first time through the treetops of Jamaica. She captured many memories of her travels throughout North America and Europe with photographs and journals.

Dodie loved ballroom dancing and while attending a dance as a young woman, she met Norb. The two wed in 1954 and chasséd their way through 38 years of marriage. Later in her life, Dolores took up golf, a favorite activity of her husband's. She enjoyed the sport for many years; much to her surprise, she even shot a hole in one. Dolores was witty, forthright, and tenacious, taking life's challenges in stride. Even as her health was failing, she often joked about her situation, delivering her classic one-liners with a twinkle in her eye.

The family expresses their sincere gratitude to Dodie's many friends for their love, companionship, and laughter shared over the years. The family also thanks the staff and residents of Independence Village of Grand Ledge and the caregivers at Danbury Woods Senior Living in Cuyahoga Falls and Bella Care Hospice Akron Region for the kind support shown Dodie in her final years.

Dodie was a regular visitor to Michigan State University in East Lansing, where she enjoyed attending performances at Wharton Center and walking in the nearby Horticulture Gardens. Her children have donated a bench to MSU's Very Important Pollinator Garden in loving memory of Dodie and her husband, Norb.

For those wishing to make a memorial donation, the family suggests supporting the V.I.P. Garden by calling Greta Orszula at (517) 353-0444, emailing her at mckin134@msu.edu, or online by following this link: https://givingto.msu.edu/gift/?smid=A11405.

Interment: Saturday, June 11, 2022, 2:30 - 3:00 p.m., Delta Center Cemetery, 7301 W. St. Joseph Highway, Lansing. Celebration of Life: Sunday, June 12, 2022, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m., Independence Village, 4775 Village Drive, Grand Ledge.