Duska Leone Dorschel passed away March 4, 2022, surrounded by the love of her family. She was born on February 7, 1945, in Bangor, ME to Donald and Virginia McCann.

Duska is survived by her beloved husband, James Clifford Dorschel, son Corey James Dorschel (Christina), grandchildren Kylie A. Dorschel (10) and Carson J. Dorschel (8) along with many other adoring family members, forever sisters and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Noel McCann.

Although the Dorschel family lost their matriarch upon her passing, Heaven gained the most beautiful angel. Duska was an angel among us and was surely welcomed through those pearly gates with a message of thanks for being such a good and faithful servant for our Lord. Of all the gifts she ever blessed us with, the greatest one she left us with is knowing how solid her relationship with God was. She shared her love of Jesus with everyone she crossed paths with. She loved being an active member of First Baptist Church of Jacksonville.

Duska celebrated her 77th birthday on February 7, 2022. We expected for there to be many more birthdays. A major stroke took her from us earlier than we ever thought would happen. Unfortunately, it was in the worst possible area of her brain that it could have been. We are thankful for the time we were allowed with her to be able to say our goodbyes.

Duska spent her early years in Brewer, Maine and later moved to South Carolina for college, where she met the love of her life while at Bob Jones University. After graduating from BJU, she went on to get her master’s degree from The University of North Carolina. Jim was from Pennsylvania and has said that from the very first moment he saw her he knew that she was THE one. She was petite and cute as a button and he a tall handsome gentleman. They married on their college campus and later they moved to Jacksonville and ultimately settled in Fleming Island. June 2, 2022 would have been Jim and Duska’s 50th wedding anniversary. What a beautiful love story they share. They traveled the world together, literally.

Duska’s degree was in Home Economics, and she had an illustrious career with the University of Florida’s IFAS program and their Extension office in Jacksonville. She taught women across Jacksonville how to use the microwave oven and food processor and was half of the famous Duska and Tamer Britton (her best friend) duo who hosted fancy ‘Holiday Happenings’ events for the City of Jacksonville. She met and made some of her very best and lifelong friends, her forever sisters, whom she cherished, through her career (and church). She was a pioneer as a workingwoman and created innovative programs for the Extension office that were used state-wide. She won many awards, received numerous letters from various mayors and ultimately retired as the Executive Director of the program. You can read more about her amazing career in this retirement article that was in the newspaper. https://www.jacksonville.com/story/lifestyle/food/2009/10/01/after-more-than-35-years-women-hang-up-their-aprons-at-extension-se/15971629007/

Corey is Jim and Duska’s only son and Duska was so so so very proud of him. Corey graduated from the same college his parents did and that was a source of great pride for her. You could also see the sheer joy on her face any chance she got to tell you about Corey and how he is an Eagle Scout. In his younger years, she was his den leader. Corey is an intelligent, faithful, devoted, hard-working and handsome Christian man. All are qualities from his mom and dad.

Corey blessed his mom her most cherished gifts of her lifetime, (aside from her relationship with God), her sweet grand babies, Kylie and Carson. Duska’s favorite title/name was Nanny. Kylie and Carson were the apple of their Nanny’s eye. She devoted her life to them from the time they were born…. her world revolved around them. Nanny was their summertime caregiver and always took them on fun adventures, sent them to exciting camps and made sure they joined vacation bible school and taught them bible verses every summer. (She even worked as a volunteer at VBS to be able to spend even more time with them.) No greater bond could exist than the one between Nanny and her grandchildren. Nanny is referred to in at least one out of every three stories told by Kylie and Carson. Her legacy will live on through them because of the immeasurable impact she made on their lives in their years with her.

Corey introduced his wife, Christie, to Duska in 2019 and the two made an instant connection, they loved each other almost immediately. Christie thanked her for raising her son to be a good, honest, faithful, and loyal Christian man. Duska shared with Christie that she was the woman she prayed Corey would meet and marry. It meant the world to Duska when Corey proposed to Christie at her house on her 48th wedding anniversary.

As you can see, family was incredibly important to Duska. She was the consummate homemaker & hostess and hosted weekly family dinner nights, complete with a full place setting and a thoughtful & delicious homemade meal (usually a different meal each week, rarely the same meal twice). She attended every school, scout, camp, sporting function she was able to. Every Christmas, following a HUGE celebration with her grandbabies, she would serve homemade eggnog, her mother’s traditional recipe and Corey’s favorite, her homemade orange rolls. She coordinated family picnics when the weather was beautiful and made sure every birthday was celebrated with your favorite meal and dessert. Her cheesecakes were to die for, especially the blueberry cheesecake.

Rest In peace sweet Nanny. You were a rare jewel, an institution, and you will be missed for the rest of our lives. We will see you again in Heaven!