Dorothy Lillian Sywenki

The beloved Dorothy (“Dottie”) Lillian Rudd Sywenki, 89, of Mount Plymouth, FL, went to heaven in the early hours of Monday, March 13, 2023. She was born on October 7, 1933 in Summertown, GA, and is survived by her son, Steven Earl Sywenki; daughter, Teresa Star Ruggiero Agress (Keith); brother, Michael Rudd (Candy); and four grandchildren, Jacob Paul Sywenki, Kate Megan Elizabeth Sywenki, Jennifer Merrick Agress, and Nicholas Barret Agress (Christina).

Dottie made an impact everywhere she went. Her amazing secretarial skills landed her an opportunity to work for a private employer who mentored her in investments and finance. She left to explore other opportunities and was frequently offered full-time employment. However, it wasn't until she worked at Miami Dade College that she found her true home – and she eventually retired as Program Leader of the Miami Dade College Controller’s Office in 1999. While there, Dottie took advantage of the opportunity to get her AA from Miami Dade College and went on to earn a BA in Accounting from Florida International University.

Throughout her life, Dottie had a real passion for helping others. Powered by that same drive and work ethic her employers loved, she donated her time and talent to Helping Hands and Habitat for Humanity in Miami, and after Hurricane Andrew, volunteered with the American Red Cross. When she moved to Central Florida, she volunteered to assist the elderly with their taxes, served as a “Santa helper” at The Villages’ Christmas events, and tutored students at Sorrento Elementary School, teaching Hispanic children how to read and write.

Dottie’s achievements on paper were impressive, but they paled in comparison to what she created at home. To all who knew her, Dottie was an incredible mother, grandmother, wife, and friend – and she made life special just by being herself. Dinner at Dottie’s house meant gathering around the table for her incredible cooking, which included homemade mashed potatoes, chicken-fried steak, her salad “made with love,” or if you were really lucky, her famous Southern-fried chicken. She also loved the outdoors, and when able, went for daily runs and planned sunrise outings with her family to make steak and eggs by the Key Biscayne seawall or to pick up aluminum cans on the beach with her son to help him save for his first car. She loved nature and collected chrysalises and released them in her beautiful butterfly garden. On weekend sleepovers with her grandkids, she slid down hills, turned sheets and dining room chairs into living room forts, laid blankets on the grass to look at the clouds on a sunny day or find Orion's Belt at night, and read bedtime stories until they fell asleep in the fort they built together. She was at every school function, baseball game, piano recital, orchestra concert, and holiday gathering. Her dogs (she had more than 10 throughout her lifetime!) got the royal treatment, whether that meant being hand-fed home-cooked meals or “watching” Animal Planet while Dottie was at work. Human or animal, there was nothing more important to her than her family.

As we all hope for at the end of our life, Dottie’s last moments on earth were bathed in love. She left this earth surrounded by her loving family and caretakers. There were songs, prayers, memories, sadness, joy, and — because you can never say it enough — love. Because, indeed, Dottie was so incredibly and deeply loved.

Dottie’s cremation arrangements have been made through Harden/Pauli Funeral Home in Eustis, FL, and her ashes will be spread by her family privately. An online guestbook is available for friends and family to sign at www.hardenpauli.com .