Dorothy Novak

Dorothy H. Novak, 88, of Roswell, New Mexico, passed away on Saturday, January 18, 2025. Funeral services with interment at South Park Cemetery are presently pending at Anderson-Bethany Funeral Home. Please take a moment to share a kind thought or memory with the family at www.andersonbethany.com. A rosary and mass will be held on Monday, June 9, 2025, at Assumption Catholic Church, in Roswell, New Mexico. The rosary will begin at 9:30 AM, the mass will follow at 10:00 AM, followed by an interment at South Park Cemetery. A reception will be held after the interment at the Assumption Church Parish Hall. Dorothy was born on July 30, 1936, in Mena, Arkansas, to Richard and Louise Niels. She attended and graduated from Acorn High School in Mena. In 1955, her brother Richard joined the United States Air Force and brought his roommate, Ed Novak, to Mena to meet his family. Dorothy's mom said she had better grab him quickly, and that a year of daily letter writing started between Ed and Dorothy, which resulted in a wonderful marriage. They then moved to Ed's first military assignment in Biloxi, Mississippi, where a year later, they had their first son, Edward Novak III, during a hurricane. They were then transferred to Walker Air Force Base in Roswell, NM, where their second son Karl and daughter Margaret were born. Due to the closure of the base, the Novak family moved to Grand Forks, North Dakota, and then on to Kadena Air Force Base, Okinawa. After a few years, Dorothy and Ed were reassigned to Cannon Air Force Base in Clovis, NM. Upon retirement, they returned to Roswell, where they opened a small gift shop named World Winds. After several years, the store was closed, and Dorothy stayed home and took care of her teenage kids. Sadly, in 1995, Dorothy lost her husband and soulmate of 39 years as the Lord called Ed home. Dorothy stayed in Roswell and continued her wonderful friendships with all her friends that she had made over the years. In 2023, Dorothy moved to Good Life Senior home in Carlsbad, NM. A year later, she was transferred to Good Life in Artesia, NM, where she forged loving relationships with the aides and staff until her death on January 18, 2025. Dorothy was preceded in death by her loving husband Edward F. Novak Jr., her mother and father Louise and Richard Niels, sister Mary, and brothers Richard and Johnny. Dorothy is survived by her daughter Margaret Novak from Roswell, her sons Edward F. Novak III of Waller, TX, and Karl Novak of Hollywood, FL, her granddaughter and great-grandson Meghan and Maxxwel Dragulski of Sisbee, TX, and grandson Edward Novak IV of Chicago, Illinois. The family requests, in lieu of flowers, that any donations be made to the charity of their choice in honor of Dorothy.

Dorothy Novak

July 30, 1936 - January 18, 2025