Dorothy Mae Tunick

Dorothy Mae Tunick, 79, passed away January 26, 2023, surrounded by her family. She leaves behind a legacy of love, in the countless people she supported and cared for in her lifetime.

Dorothy, (Dot to many), as born on August 10, 1943 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After graduating high school, she signed up for the Peace Corps and spent two years in Tanzania, East Africa. She shared her compassionate spirit with those in need, and had adventures that she always remembered fondly. However, her dream was always to get married and have a family.

In 1969, she married Mark Tunick and they had five children together. She was an exceptional wife, mother and friend. She was a caretaker for children, both in her home and at church, and was considered a second mother to many. Her heart was full of a deep and endless love, and she shared it selflessly with all she encountered. She didn't like to be the center of attention, except when it came to teaching and shaping young minds. She had both a commanding presence and nurturing spirit; she always knew when to teach resilience or when to wrap someone in a warm hug. She had the rarest quality of true unconditional love, and shared it selflessly with everyone she met. She was integral in the transformation of the weekly preschool at Bowie Church of Christ to the Bowie Christian School, where she worked tirelessly for years. Dot was passionate about helping children and their families; and as her children grew up and left home, she redirected her focus toward mentoring young mothers and families. She was a constant source of strength and support for everyone who knew her. She will be greatly missed, but her love will live on in all those she impacted in life.

She is predeceased by her parents Dorothy Geddes Chun, Raymond Chun and Ruth Chun, s well as her sister, Karen Stemler. She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Mark Tunick; her children and their families: Glenn, Rachel, Elizabeth, Deborah, and Sarah; and her sister, Debra McKinnon.