Dorene K. Plaszaj, 69, of Butler, Pennsylvania, passed away on Sunday January 31, 2016 at 5:00 a.m. at her residence.She was born October 20, 1946 in Butler, Pennsylvania to the late Maxwell V. Kirkpatrick and Dorothy (Smith) Kirkpatrick. Dorene was a graduate of Butler High School. She then went on to Slippery Rock University where she received her Ph.D. in Christian counseling. Dorene was a founder of the Living Word Evangelical Free Church and enjoyed watching TV.  She is survived by her husband, Ronald Thomas Plaszaj, whom she married May 6, 1992; two sons, Joseph R. Plaszaj of Cannonsburg, PA and Kirk Patrick Heavner and his wife Meredith of Butler, PA; one daughter, Karen Marie Hieble and her husband Thomas of Anderson, SC; four grandchildren, Alexander P. Heavner, Catherine Hieble, Emily Hieble and Joseph Hieble; and her dog, Joy Joy.

Friends will be received Thursday, February 4, 2016 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Thompson - Miller Funeral Home, Inc., 124 East North Street, Butler, PA. Funeral services will be held immediately following at 4:00 p.m. with Reverend H. William Glassman of Living Word Evangelical Free Church officiating.Burial will take place in the Cemetery of Alleghenies.