Dorothy Marie (Lorenz) Cubrich-Shell, age 73, of Crete, Nebraska passed away January 4, 2016 in the Wilber Care Center. She was born November 21, 1942 at the farm of her parents, Joseph E. and Idella M. (Vlasin) Lorenz west of Crete. She was the first girl and the second child of 12 children. She attended school at District 31, St. James Catholic School, and Crete High School. At age 15 she joined The Sisters of the Most Precious Blood in O'Fallon, Missouri, where she completed high school and earned a Bachelor's Degree. During her 11 years as a nun she taught in Florissant, Missouri as well as St. James School in Crete, Nebraska. Later she earned her Master's and Administrative Degrees. She taught in the Omaha Public Schools, St. Bernadette's and Holy Cross of Omaha, St. Mary's of Bellevue, St. Bridgett's of Omaha as a teacher and principal, and as a principal at St. Columbkille in Papillion, Nebraska. She was active in the Omaha Catholic Schools Spelling Bee and later helped with Saline County Spelling Bee and worked with reading at St. James School in Crete. In June of 1972 she married Alex Cubrich Jr. who had three sons. Together as a family they enjoyed music, archery, camping, fishing, and Lake Okoboji, as well as their ownership of Al's Archery. Alex died in March of 1998. In 2000 Dorothy built a handicap accessible home in Crete to care for her father and eventually her mother. In November 2005 Dorothy married Chuck Shell who shared her love of auctions and country music. Chuck passed away January of 2010. During her time in Crete her home became the hub of all family gatherings. Throughout her life she lovingly shared her smile and leadership skills as a teacher, in her faith, and within her family.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Idella, her husbands Alex and Chuck, and son, Tim Cubrich.

Survivors include: Son, Mitch (Nancy) Cubrich: grandchildren Bart, Lou, Russ, Sam, Carley, Tom, Mary, Will, Curt. Son, Nick (Dottie) Cubrich: grandchildren Marc and Hunter all of Omaha. Grandson: Tim (Joan) Cubrich of Stanberry, Missouri Great-Grandchildren (Ava, Steel, Cash)
Siblings: Ron (Judy) Lorenz and Irene (Jim) Kearney, Lincoln, NE. Bill (Barb) Lorenz and Bob Lorenz, Crete, NE. Joan (Ken) Stuhr, Petersburg, NE. Ginny (Bud) Hummel, Waverly, NE. Joyce (Gordon) Moeller, Gering NE. Mary Jo Lorenz, Denver, CO. Leona Vocasek, Dodge City, KS, Dan Lorenz & fiancé Cheryl, Friend, NE, Father Bernard Lorenz, Imperial, NE. Special friend Rich Harsh of Douglas, NE.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM on Thursday, January 7, 2016 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Crete, Celebrant Father Bernard Lorenz. Visitation, Wednesday from 2:30 – 8 PM with family greeting friends, 5 – 6:30 PM and Rosary at 6:30 PM, all at Kuncl Funeral Home in Crete. Interment will take place on Thursday at Westlawn Hillcrest Cemetery in Omaha, meet at main entrance at 2:45 PM. Memorials are suggested to St. James Elementary School in Crete or to the Wilber Care Center in Wilber. Condolences may be left at kunclfh.com.