Goodbye Dorothy

Young Dorothy, not sure what year. Prob 1920's. >>>>>>


(Added this after I posted. Dale sent me an email after reading my Blog)
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just reading your blog, finally, all of it.

mom's early days picture is probably around 1936.

she won the state spelling bee then and graduated then.

we have her original dictionary and spelling bee award and also a necklace she received for it.

we found her first teaching certificate and a state certificate.

we have a lot to go thru, but will get it done.

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Dorothy after winning the Spelling Bee 1995 (above)

My beloved Aunt Dorothy died last night, 630PM Central time. She was 89! She wasn't my "real" Aunt, she was Godmother to my sister Sonya, but I considered her true family. I called her often and we sang hymns, and talked. She was my last link to Claflin, and my Mom, and all the summers I spent with Grandma Hammer and the Frenzl's. My "bountiful".
She is with Norman now, and probably finally back home in Claflin where she so wanted to be.
She had been in an assisted living place in Hutchinson, KS for the past few years.
God bless her. She outlived everyone. I was hoping she'd live to be 100! I joked with her about that.
When I got the email yesterday afternoon from Georgeanna, Dale's wife, that Dorothy was in the hospital, I called. He said she'd had a heart attack earlier and that her heart was 95% blocked and it didn't look good. I told him to tell her I called and that I was holding good thoughts and prayers for her.
When I called back a bit later, he told me that he'd told her I'd called, and that she said "Oh Tony, if he were here he could sing to me". I will forever treasure that. Knowing that she had me in her heart and mind makes me very happy.
I miss you Aunt Dorothy. Give my best to Norman.
She will be buried this Saturday in Claflin Kansas. Next to Norman.
Down the row from my Mom.
I can picutre it all now...as I sit here in NY in my office.
Norman loved the hymn "Nearer My God to Thee".
Dorothy and I always sang "Jesus Loves Me'.
I was listening to the hymn "Softly and Tenderly" earlier.
And Eva Cassidy singing "Over the Rainbow".
Take good care of her God. She is a very special lady!