Dorothy Kovacs

Dorothy (“Dot”) Kovacs

87, of Ithaca NY, and a longtime resident of Schuyler County, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family at Hospicare, Ithaca, NY on September 10, 2023 of natural causes. 

Loving daughter of Veronica and Dezso Kovacs, she was born in New York City on January 11, 1936 and spent her childhood in Bayonne, NJ.  After graduating from Fairleigh Dickinson College, Dorothy worked for over 20 years as a registered nurse until her retirement in 1995. She treated her elderly patients with the same endless love and care that she graciously showered upon her family.  Dorothy loved singing, dancing, swimming (floating), playing with her grandchildren, eating, and just plain having fun. In her later years, she was most at peace when visiting her little duck pond in Horseheads, NY (see below poem). 

She is survived by her three children and their spouses, Henry (Kathleen) Rocholl IV of Pompano Beach FL, Eric (Kathlyn) Rocholl of Fayetteville PA, and Denise (Jim) Searle of Watkins Glen NY. She had eleven grandchildren: Hannah Rocholl, Matthew (Devita) Rocholl, Amy (Kevin) Hewes, Heather (Jordan) Patterson, Beth (Chidera) Ogbogu, Scott (Zeke) Loudin, Alexander (Nateah) Rundle, Abigail Rundle, Jasmine Searle, Deven (Maddy) Searle, and the late Jonathan (Michelle) Murdough; and seven great grandchildren: Mickayla, Henry, Martin, Veronica, Ellodie, Eden and Killian. 

Her big heart and inquisitive mind will be sorely missed by the entire family, but she is now with the Lord. Freed of her worldly concerns, she is undoubtedly engaged in long and lively conversations with EVERYONE in heaven!  In lieu of formal services, Dorothy’s wish was for the family to hold a private celebration of life, which will be conducted at a future date. 

Per Dorothy’s wish, please make any donations in her honor to the American Cancer Society (donate.cancer.org) and/or your local hospice care center (hospicare.org). Arrangements entrusted to Royce-Chedzoy Funeral Home, Watkins Glen.

My Little Duck Pond

(by Eric Rocholl)

As I ponder life’s curious ways,

My duck pond wonders not.

Should I stay, or will I go?  Which way?  I do not know.

My duck pond’s ripples soft reply:  No currents churn below.

Are they hungry? Have they lost…their ducklings in the rough?

My duck pond’s waters buoyant wave; for fowl there is enough.

A bobber jerks, the line goes taught; poor fish, a fight for life.

The stick will hold, the hook doth fold, pond’s days are void of strife.

The clouds grow dark, and lightning strikes, for cover all must seek.

My pond awakes, the raindrops make, a cleansing for the weak.

The sun returns, and light grows sharp, my eyes a pain they feel

Rainbow appears, my pond, no fears; a glory God reveals!

I often wonder, how many days?

Yet pond no time shall see.

You warm my heart and soothe my soul, for time eternity!