Dorothy Mae Hayer, R.N., formerly from Eckley and Freeland, and until recently, a resident of Wilkes-Barre, fell asleep in the Lord on Saturday morning, May 12, 2018 in the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital, following a brief illness.
Born on July 11, 1937 in Hazleton, she was a daughter to the late Michael and Catherine (Kushner) Lozinak.
She was educated in the Freeland area schools, and later furthered her education toward her vocation by graduating from the former Philadelphia General Hospital School of Nursing.
Mrs. Hayer worked as a registered nurse for her entire professional career. Her employment included work in pediatric nursing in the maternity ward of the former Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Hazleton; Psychiatric nursing at the White Haven Center, White Haven and until her retirement, was employed at the Weatherwood-Carbon County Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center as both a Registered Nurse and as a Registered Nurse Assessment Coordinator (R.N.A.C.). Following her formal retirement from duties, Mrs. Hayer continued in her ministry and maintained working per diem in nursing until a few years ago at the age of seventy-five.
Mrs. Hayer was a member of Saint Mary of the Dormition Byzantine Catholic Church, Freeland for most of her life. In recent years, she held membership in Holy Assumption of Saint Mary Byzantine Catholic Church, North Wilkes-Barre. She was an active volunteer in both parishes faithfully.
Over the years, she served as a chaperone for parish Youth Group field trips; was a volunteer for parish summer festivals, and for several years, she served as Camp Nurse at the Eparchial Altar Server Retreat Camp held annually in Canadensis, PA.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her former spouse, Mr. James J. Hayer, and by brothers and sisters including John, Michael, and Daniel Lozinak, Colonel Mary M. Lozinak, U.S. Army (Ret.), Mrs. Helen Parsons, Miss Catherine Lozinak, Mrs. Anna Fifick, Mrs. Margaret Lawrence and Miss Agnes Lozinak.
Left to mourn her passing are her beloved son, Right Reverend Archpriest James G. Hayer, Protosyncellus (Vicar General) of the Eparchy of Passaic; Sister, Mrs. Elsie Palinko, West Haven, CT; Numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, fellow parishioners and dear friends.
Funeral services for Mrs. Hayer will be conducted on Saturday morning, May 19th at 10:00 a.m. celebrating the Office of Christian Burial with Divine Liturgy in Holy Assumption of Saint Mary Byzantine Catholic Church, 695 North Main Street, Wilkes-Barre, where Father Michael Kerestes is pastor.
Principal celebrant will be her son, Right Reverend Archpriest James G. Hayer. Presiding will be Bishop Kurt Burnette, Bishop of the Eparchy of Passaic. Attending will be Metropolitan William Skurla, Archbishop of Pittsburgh.
Relatives and friends may join Reverend Archpriest Hayer and his family for visitation and remembrances Friday evening from 6 until 8 p.m. directly in Saint Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church, where a Parastas service will be conducted 7:30 p.m. with her son, officiating. Additional visitation will be held on Saturday morning from 9 a.m. until the time of Divine Liturgy.
Interment with the Rite of Committal will be private in the parish cemetery, Lake Street, Dallas.
In lieu of floral tributes, Father Jim and his family would be humbled if those contemplating a monetary donation in his mother’s memory kindly consider the Sisters of Saint Basil the Great, 500 West Main Street, Uniontown, PA 15401 or to the Holy Annunciation Monastery, 403 West County Road, Sugarloaf, PA 18249.
The North Wilkes-Barre location of the John V. Morris Family Funeral Homes Inc. is honored to care for Father Hayer and his mother at this time.
