Dorothy Eileen Smith, 89, of Sister Bay, passed away Thursday evening, October 3, 2019 at Good Samaritan Society-Scandia Village in Sister Bay.
She was born May 1, 1930 in Leicester, England, the daughter of Charles Pate Mackman Deacon and Edith (Newcombe) Deacon. Dorothy attended Mundella School in Leicester. She met Norman Kenneth Smith when she was 17, and they were married on Christmas Eve 1949 at St. Barnabus Church in Leicester.
Dorothy (and Norman) immigrated to Wisconsin, arriving on January 6, 1961 in hopes of greater opportunities and made their home on the north side of Milwaukee. Dorothy worked a number of part-time jobs so she could be at home with her three daughters. After the girls left home, Dorothy worked at Wisconsin Gasket until she retired at 61. Dorothy and Norman were blessed with over 61 years of marriage. He preceded her in death on February 5, 2011 in Leicester. Dorothy moved back to Wisconsin to live with her daughter, Denise, and then moved to Door County in 2012 to live with her daughter, Denise, and son-in-law, LeRoy “Butch”.
She was a member of the Transatlantic Brides and Parents Association in Milwaukee and enjoyed participating in the International Institute’s Holiday Folk Fair that was held in November celebrating world cultures, heritage, and traditions. Dorothy was an excellent cook and baker who was known for making jam tarts, pasties, and mince pies. She will be remembered for being a strong and caring person and a hard worker. “She was Mom.”
Dorothy will be deeply missed by her daughter, Denise (LeRoy “Butch”) Schramm of Sister Bay; nine grandchildren, Lisa (Curt) Rosbeck, Kerin Schramm, David Schramm, Kimberly (Edward) McGillis, Lindsay (Travis) Tackes, Christopher Volgmann, Nicholas Volgmann, Andrew Smith, and Lane Lewandowski; fifteen great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; sister, Irene Zupan; brother, John (Faye) Deacon of Leicester, England; brother-in-law, Derek (Janice) Smith of Leicester, England; many nieces and nephews; and other relatives.
She was preceded in death by her father, Charles P.M. Deacon; mother, Edith Huddleston; husband, Norman; two daughters, Linda (Glen) Tetzlaff and Janice Smith; eight siblings, Fred (Elsie) Deacon, Edna (Jim) Travers, Ray Deacon, Roy (Jan) Deacon, Margaret (Arthur) McDaniel, Leslie (Pat) Deacon, Gladys Deacon, Evelyne Deacon; brother-in-law, Trevor (Sue) Smith; great-grandson, Joey Pari; and other relatives.
Dorothy’s life will be honored with a memorial service to be held at the “Gathering Room” at Scandia Village in Sister Bay with Rev. Joy Zakrzewski officiating, date to be determined.
She will be laid rest in Washington County Memorial Park in West Bend in the Spring with her husband and two daughters.
Memorials may be given in her name for Birchwood Memory Care Unit (c/o Scandia Village, 10560 Applewood Rd., Sister Bay, WI 54234).
“Thank you to the Scandia Village staff for your care given to Mom these past two months.”
