Obituary of Dorothy Mae Pelick

Dorothy "Dotty" Pelick, 76, of State College, died Saturday, July 9, 2016, at Greenhills Village. Born September 13, 1939 in Harrisburg, she was the daughter of the late Michael and Mary Matrisian. She married Thomas Pelick, on June 15, 1963, who also preceded her in death. She is survived by two children, Michele A. Pelick, of Bellefonte, and Joseph T. Pelick, of State College; three brothers, Robert Matrisian and his wife, Charlotte, of Stuart, FL, Richard Matrisian and his wife, Ealish, of Seattle, WA, and Paul Matrisian and his wife, Lynn, of Nashville TN. Dotty graduated from Kutztown State College with a bachelor's degree in art education. She taught art to elementary through senior high school students in Harrisburg, State College, and Washington. She enjoyed creating art through various medias and won awards for jewelry making, creative stitchery, and oil paintings. While in Florida, Dotty toured a silk screen printing plant; this sparked her interest and she began to study the process of silk screen printing. She studied in Seattle, WA, Pittsfield, MA, and in Europe. She received her master's degree in Art Education from Penn State University. Dotty was elected Artist of the Month in 1970 at the Crafts Gallery in Bainbridge Island, WA and her work was selected for a show at the Tacoma Art Museum, Tacoma, WA. She was also honored as one of 300 graphic artists in the nation to be published in "Graphics '75". Dotty exhibited her art at many shows and festivals around the country, including the Harrisburg Art Festival, State College Festival of the Arts, Bainbridge Arts and Craft Festival as one of ten artists featured, Gettysburg State Craft Fair, and the Kitsap Mason Art Show in Bremerton, WA. In addition, she also showed her work at numerous galleries across North Carolina, Ohio, Louisiana, Vermont, New York, and Pennsylvania. She was featured in the first State College Festival of the Arts which is celebrating its 50th year this week. In the mid-eighties, Dotty became interested in financial business after working in banking for many years. She went to NYC for several months to learn, study, and get her stockbrokers license. In 1992, Dotty opened Pelick Financial Services in the Allenway building in State College. She continued her successful business until retirement in 2000. Dotty was very socially active and started many social groups, bringing people of various backgrounds together, including people new to the area. Some of the associations she was involved with include, PSU retired Faculty Club, Red Hat Society, Women's Welcome Club (past President), Vincent De Paul Society, Game Night, Women's Poker, Jewelry clubs, Craft clubs, Cooking clubs, Bunko, PSU University women's club, Breakfast Club (founder), American Wine Society, and State College Wine Society. Dotty was also involved with the local Senior Center. She was a member of American Legion, Our Lady of Victory Church, and also associated with Good Shephard Catholic Church. Visitation will be from 1-3p.m. and 6-8p.m. on Tuesday, July 12, 2016 at Koch Funeral Home, 2401 S. Atherton Street, State College. Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30a.m. on Wednesday, July 13, 2016 at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, 820 Westerly Pkwy, State College, with the Reverend Michael Wolfe officiating. Burial will be in Pine Hall Cemetery, State College. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Lance and Ellen Shaner Cancer Pavilion at Mt. Nittany Medical Center, in care of The Foundation for Mount Nittany Medical Center, 1800 East Park Avenue, State College, PA 16803, in memory of Dorothy "Dotty" Pelick. Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences and signing of the guest book may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com .