DOROTHY BIRKEMOE ROSSFebruary 7, 1921 – November 3, 2012

A CELEBRATION OF

LIFE & LOVE

Prepared with love by Patti Ross

Dorothy was born in Chicago, the youngest of four siblings

Dorothy & PeggyChildhood Friends

Graduation, Steinmetz HS, 1939

Ray & Dorothy met in high school.

It was LOVE

at first sight!

weddingWEDDING DAY: June 7, 1941

Mr. & Mrs. Ray Ross

Ray went off to war, but love survives!

Ray & Dorothy had five children, all girls!

Mother & DaughtersA Special Relationship

Dorothy’s

Dad

died

in 1955

In 1961, Ray & Dorothy left Natchez Ave. to move the family to Temple City, CA.

Margaret, their eldest daughter, had recently married, so she stayed in Chicago.

IT WAS ALSO HARD TO SAY GOODBYE TO

PARENTSKitty Birkemoe

Oscar & Caroline Ross

Family Portrait Not Long After Moving to California

Dorothy collected quotes and poems that captured her loving,

giving nature and her zest for life.

Gift

from

Ber

nice

Freq

uent

Gift

to

Oth

ers

Ray & Dorothy Over the Years

SOME ANNIVERSARIES

25th Anniversary

Around 70th Anniversary

Two 50th Anniversary Celebrations

ROSS FAMILY OVER THE YEARS

SISTERS SHARE A SPECIAL BOND

Kitty Birkemoe & Her Sister Mary

The Ross Sisters

Dorothy & Her Sister Bernice Were Very Close

ALL THE GRANDCHILDREN

Except Jason, the youngest, had not been

born yet!

In these , Kurt, the oldest grandchild, is missing

50th Anniversary Celebration, 1991

But I bet Kurt is asking, “Are we having fun yet?!”

“IT WAS ALWAYS GREAT TO HEAR MOM LAUGH!”

DOROTHY & HER SIBLINGSAbout 1

923

Pete, Dorothy, Bernice & Bob

1992: Pete, Bernice, Bob & Dorothy

DISTANT RELATIVES ARE ALWAYS CLOSE AT HEART

GOOD FRIENDS ARE ALWAYS TREASURED

FLOWERS FROM DOROTHY’S GARDEN

DOROTHY LOVED ALL FLOWERS, BUT ESPECIALLY LILACS

DOROTHY ALSO LOVED THE WILDFLOWERS ALONG THE ROAD, ESPECIALLY . . .

Memory is the power to gather roses and wildflowers in winter.

“Mom, we’ll always remember you!”

Queen Anne’s Lace California Poppies

Lupine

Common Thistle

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!”

“We’ll still celebrate for you each year

with cake and ice cream.

Maybe not the gorllia!”

70 Years Young!

90 Years Young!

GRANDMA WITH HER GRANDCHILDREN WHEN THEY WERE LITTLE—THEY’RE ALL GROWN UP NOW

Michelle Kurt

Kevin

Jason Kacy & Paul Peter Lisa

Jimmy

DOROTHY’S GREAT GRANDCHILDREN

Mila

Logan

Josie Ledger Benjamin

Paul & Phillip

Dorothy Always Loved Dogs!

(even putting up with Murphy, a “granddog”)

“THERE MUST BE DOGS IN HEAVEN!”

They were all wagging their tails, ecstatic

when Dorothy finally came home

to Heaven!

BridgetCinnamom

ToddlesMurphy

Alice Visiting from INA Trip to Southwest Museum

A Wedding ReceptionAn Everyday Visit

“A house is made of walls and beams. A home is built with love and dreams.” Proverb

No matter where they are,

if Mom & Dad are there, it feels like

HOME!

Chocolate always helps

DOROTHY LOVED CHRISTMAS

Can you hear the bells

in the Christmas

Village?

Dorothy in Chicago for the Holidays, 1987, before a cold, cold walk on State Street to see the Windows & Lights

Dorothy & Her Mom

DOROTHY ALWAYS TOOK TIME TO PLAY!

Good with a hula hoop

Making Sand Castles“Who’s gonna win?”

Blowing Bubbles

“Go fly a kite!”

Ray caught Dorothy out flying a kite—and even

won a photo contest with this picture!

DOROTHY OFTEN DISPLAYED FRESH FLOWERS IN THE HOME AND GAVE BOUQUETS AS GIFTS

Roses from Mom’s Garden

“Happiness seems made

to be shared.”

Pierre Cameille

“The best way to cheer yourself is to try to cheer someone else.”

Mark Twain

PATTI

FOR THE LAST YEAR MOM & I HAD A DINNER-AND-A-MOVIE NIGHT EVERY WEEK.

SHE LOVED COMEDIES & ROMANCES.

BARBARA

BARBARA’S FAMILY

MARY

MARY’S FAMILY

NANCY

NANCY’S FAMILY

MARGIE

“Who practices hospitality entertains God Himself.” Proverb

“A happy home: The most perfect glimpse of heaven.”

Proverb

MARGIE’S FAMILY

Watch for Dorothy when

you are strolling in a garden.

Her spirit will be there waiting

for us.

“I think that I shall never seeA poem as lovely as a tree.. . .A tree that looks at God all day,And lifts her leafy arms to pray.. . .Poems are made by fools like me,But only God can make a tree.”Trees by Joyce Kilmer DOROTHY LOVED AND

RECITED THIS POEM OFTEN

“Those who have never known the

deep intimacy and the

intense companionship of happy mutual love have missed the

best thing that life has to give.”

Bertrand Russell

H

SAYING GOODBYE Ray had a chance to visit Dorothy

the day before she passed.

Ray, Barbara & Dorothy

THEIR LOVE WILL CONTINUE FOREVER

Sunrise, sunset, Sunrise, sunsetSwiftly fly the yearsOne season following anotherLaden with happiness - and - tears.

Jerry Bock

DOROTHY BIRKEMOE ROSSDaughter & Sister

Wife & MotherGood Friend & Neighbor

GrandmotherGreat Grandmother

Angel on Earth

“Dorothy, you are loved and will be missed—thanks for all you have given us over the

years!”