Jovita Visconde Waldorff, 91, of Dunkirk, died Friday, December 14, 2012.
Warren R. "Butch" Waldorff, Sr., 87, of Dunkirk, died January 21, 2011.
Jovita was born in the Philippines, January 22, 1921. Warren was born in Dunkirk, October 20, 1923.
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Their paths first crossed during World War II; Warren was a U.S. Marine, fighting to liberate the Philippines, where Jovita lived. Both were subjected to the atrocities of war; Jovita lost a brother, and Warren suffered in a POW camp in China, until war's end. And although they never met, an unseen, unfelt bond had formed.
Ten years later, their paths would cross again, at the Nautilus in Manila, where this picture was taken. Coincidentally, they both had followed similar, difficult roads; both tried to rebuild their lives broken by war, both were looking for a new beginning, both found it that day. They were married in 1958 and returned to the Dunkirk-Fredonia area in 1961 to raise their 3 children.
Fifty-five years later, Jovita rejoins Warren, at the Nautilus (in heaven), where they laugh, dance, and reminisce about their lives: Warren's 7-years of military service in the U.S. Marine Corps, during which he was awarded several medals including the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 4 star, Philippine Liberation Medal with 1 star, Presidential Unit Citation, and World War II Victory Medal; Warren's career as a roughneck driller, first on oil rigs in Australia and the Philippines, and later for Ehmke Well Drillers Inc.; the birth of Warren Jr., whom Warren Sr. delivered in a nipa hut in Cebu; their 52 years living in Fredonia and Dunkirk; Jovita's accomplishments as a painter and gardener (and former horticulture club vice president); and the countless hours they spent fishing on their boat and on the dock. Many knew Jovita as the "Fish Lady", who was often seen walking from her home on Leming Street carrying her pole and tackle to the dock and sitting there fishing for hours everyday for over 15 years.
Warren and Jovita are predeceased by their son, Daryl C. Waldorff, and survived by their daughter, Shirley A. (Wayne) Deszcz of Dunkirk and their son, Warren R. (Jennifer) Waldorff, Jr. of North Canton, Ohio. They are also survived by 9 grandchildren, Melanie (Brian) Wielgasz, Douglas Baldwin, twins, Aaron and Derek Deszcz of Dunkirk; Christopher Waldorff, Ashley (Tim) Klase, Larissa Waldorff, and twins, Peyton and Kenley Waldorff of North Canton; and 2 great-grandchildren, Kay-lee Nebrich and Samantha Wielgasz of Dunkirk. Warren is survived by his sister Audrey Sanders of Angola.
At their request, no service will be held. Donations can be made to the Chautauqua County Home, where Jovita lived for the last two years.
Arrangements by R. Mackowiak Funeral Home, 56 E. Doughty St., Dun-kirk.
