Statia T. Dobeck, 88, of North Brookfield, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2008.

   Statia was born in Brookfield, MA, on Feb. 28, 1920 and was the last survivor of 8 children of Nicholas and Anna Shivick. She grew up in Oxford. After completing Oxford High School she entered training at Hahnemann Hospital School of Nursing. After graduating from training, she enlisted in the Army Air Corps during World War II where she served as a surgical nurse in Germany. Because of her ability to speak Polish, she was selected as a member of the first nursing unit to enter the Dachau concentration camp at the end of the war. After the war she married Joseph F. Dobeck of Clinton, MA, and moved to North Brookfield, MA. There she practiced nursing for the remainder of her professional career working in both hospital and home care in the Ware and Worcester areas. She was school nurse for North Brookfield, East Brookfield, and Brookfield for many years. She was a Worcester County Public Health nurse for several years. She participated in many public health programs for seniors and others in the Brookfield area.

   She enjoyed crafts, especially country painting and flower arranging and always had contributions for the annual church bazaar. Her special pride and joy were her flower and vegetable gardens with which she possessed a particularly green thumb. For many years she was a member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church Altar Society, and took great enjoyment in providing and arranging flowers for the church altar. For more than 50 years she hosted an annual family (Shivick) picnic in August which was attended by over 100 family members. Bringing the family together was always her greatest source of joy. She was recipient of the Grange's Citizen of the Year award.

   She was predeceased by her husband Joseph F. Dobeck in 1990 and an infant son Ronald James. She is survived by her son Gerald and his wife Judy and her son Kenneth and his wife Kathy, and their children Chantelle, Joseph, and Teshia. She has eight great-grand children. She leaves many nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews.

   The funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, December 13, 2008 at 10:00AM in St. Joseph's Church 296 Main St. North Brookfield .Burial will follow in Worcester County Memorial Park in Paxton. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Joseph's Church Renovation Fund 28 Mt.Pleasant St., North Brookfield, MA 01525. Pillsbury Funeral Home 44 Gilbert St. North Brookfield is directing arrangements.