Dolores Brown

Dolores "Dode" Brown, 82, of Grand Ridge, Illinois, passed away Thursday morning November 4, 2010 in her home surrounded by her loving family. Memorial Mass will be 11:00 AM Tuesday, November 9, 2010 at St. Mary's of the Fields Catholic Church, Grand Ridge, IL. Visitation will be 9:00 - 10:30AM prior to the mass on Tuesday at St. Mary's of the Fields Catholic Church. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery, Ottawa, Illinois. She was born March 27, 1928, east of Grand Ridge, to Christopher and Mary (Hanusik) McCormick. Since her father was Station Manger for United Air Lines, the family lived in Dallas, Chicago, Des Moines, and North Platte. After their father, Christy died in 1943, the family moved back to Streator, Illinois. Dode attended Grand Ridge High School and graduated from Streator High School in 1946. She went on to take a summer course in Ottawa to be a teacher under the Emergency Act, and that year taught all eight grades at the one room Craft School House, one mile west of Kangley. She married James D. Brown, on November 27, 1946, at Scott AFB in Bellville, Illinois. Dode was a member of the Marquette Mothers' Club, a foster parent to 13 children through the years, mostly newborns. She loved to sew for her children and created her one-of-a-kind Barbie clothes and dolls. She also created fleece blankets for area nursing homes to name a few. She loved her canaries, flowers, painting, and baking. Dode was active in St. Mary's Church, teaching religious education, singing in the choir, and for several years was in charge of the parish finances. After her children were older, Dode worked for the United States Postal Service in Grand Ridge, and later at the Streator and Ottawa Post Offices for a total of 17 years, retiring in 1992. Despite her illness, she was able to have a wonderful quality of life to the end, thanks to the care and concern of Dr. Robert Parsons of Streator, her longtime physician and friend. The family would also like to thank VITAS Hospice for their love and care during her illness. Dode is survived by her husband of 64 years, James Brown, and five children, Kevin (Pat) Brown of Ottawa; Sheila (Michael) Rawlins of Morris; James (Cindy) Brown of Palmdale, CA; Karen (Ahmed) Saleh of Streator; and Christine (Sylvester) Benckendorf of Streator. Ten grandchildren, also survive her, Mike Brown of Lewisville, TX; Becky (Jason) Spaulding of Bloomington, IL; Steve (Christin) Brown of Lexington, IL; James (Caitlin) Brown of Lewisville, TX; Heather (Brian) Condon; Jennifer Evans; Patrick (Karen) Smith; Zakia (Scott) Scheuer; Nadia Saleh; and Theresa Benckendorf all of Streator. Eleven great grandchildren also survive her, Nika and Kylar Spaulding; Dominic Brown; Saul Moreno; Eden Bruhns; Maura Condon; Jasmine and Jessica Evans; Allison and Michael Smith; and Ellie Scheuer. Dode is survived by one brother, James P. (Theresa) McCormick of Grand Ridge, IL. She is preceded in death by her parents; one sister; Anna Marie Cook; and three brothers, Edward, Robert, and Christy Paul McCormick. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Grand Ridge Volunteer Fire Dept., Streator Lions Club, St. Bede Abbey, or St. Mary's of the Fields for Masses. In honor of Dode, the family asks that each of you perform a random act of kindness to make the world a better place.