Dolores Abbett

Dolores Louise “Dee Dee” Ent Abbett, was a woman of joy and love. She loved everybody she met and immensely enjoyed playing with kids. Dolores vivacious character and charisma were loved and shall be missed by all of those who knew her.

In the year 1936, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected by a landslide into his second term as President of the United States. After a first term of bringing an economically ailing country back to life with the use of his famous “New Deal”, he was reelected by an unprecedented majority Electoral vote of 523-8. The Yankees won the World Series and the Detroit Red Wings won the Stanley Cup. The cost of a first class stamp was three cents. For Harry C. and Margaret Sloan Ent, however, the year 1936 was a year that celebrated the birth of their daughter, Dolores Louise. Dolores was born on October 10th of that year at the Coleman Hospital in Indianapolis.

As a young girl, Dee Dee grew up on the north side of Indianapolis. Throughout her grade school years she was an active gymnast and a dancer of ballet, tap and classical dance. She attended Miss Gates Dancing School.

Before she reached the age of ten years old Dee Dee and her family with the rest of the country and world around, felt the affects of the second world war. It was in the first years of her life that the world would fight for the second time within the same half century. Both of her brothers, J.B. and Harold “Pat” served our country as soldiers in World War II. Harold was a Prisoner Of War in Germany and Pat was Missing In Action, lost in Burma, China. However, Dee Dee and her three sisters, Patricia, Phyllis, and Marguerite, were among the fortunate of families to have all of their loved ones come back alive after the war. Both of their brothers escaped from their captivity and returned home.

When it was time for high school, Dee Dee attended the Shortridge High School. There were many activities that Dee Dee participated in during her high school career. She modeled shoes for the Brown Shoe Company, was the Junior Vaudeville Chairman and was selected as Queen of the ROTC Ball. During the summers one of her favorite activities was swimming at the Riviera Club of which her parents were charter members.

Following high school Dee Dee matriculated at the Indiana University of Dental Hygiene. She worked for four different doctors during her career as a Dental Hygienist. Working for doctors, Thomas Esmond, Jack Carr, Joe Hudson and Vern Ketner, Dee Dee totaled an impressive forty years of service to the profession. Dee Dee rightfully retired from her vocation in 1997.

It was early on in life that Dee Dee found the man, or at the time, the boy that would be the love of her life. When Richard Abbett was in the fifth grade, Dee Dee met him. The two fell in love a very early age and didn’t really date anyone else except for each other. At the age of nineteen, Dee Dee was married to Richard on December 17, 1955.

As a mother, Dee Dee was young and a vibrant person. She had four children, Ric, Kris, Andy, and Alicia. She was always proud to be their mother. All of the other kids were jealous that Dee Dee was so cool and related to young people so well. Every Halloween she would dress up as a witch for all Alicia's neighborhood children and loved having fun with them.

Along with her kids, Dee Dee loved her pets. She had three cats and three dogs. The cat's names were Peek-a-boo, Tar Baby, Sugar Bear and Morning Glory. And her dogs were Snow Bear, Kira and Tini. Her favorite possession was her collection of mice figurines and her favorite food was Swiss steak with potatoes. And as a hobby she would belly dance.

Dee Dee also belonged to a number of clubs and organizations. She was a member of the Fairview Presbyterian Church, the Caroline Scott Harrison Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution, the Wilderness Society, the Audubon Society and the Indiana Historical Society.

Thirty-five years ago, in 1969, Dee Dee contracted Multiple Sclerosis after her daughter Alicia, was born. This did not hinder her however, she continued on with her life with energy and enthusiasm. It is that energy and enthusiasm that she will be remembered for. Dee Dee was a woman of love and compassion. It will be her love of family and life that will be carried on, in the hearts and memories of all who knew her.

Dolores Louise “Dee Dee” Ent Abbett, died on Thursday October 1, 2004. She was preceded in death by her brother J.B.; sisters, Patricia Davis and Marguerite Ent; and son Kris. Her family includes: her husband Richard Abbett, children Ric E, Robert Andrew “Andy”, Alicia E. Hunter; sister Phyllis DeRosa, bother Harold C. “Pat” Ent, Jr. and eight grandchildren.

Friends may visit with Dee Dee’s family on Monday, October 4th from 4-8 p.m. at the Leppert Life Story Funeral HomeTM – Nora Chapel. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, October 5th at 3 p.m. at the same location. Please visit Dee Dee’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you can share a memory, send flowers, or make a memorial contribution to either the Multiple Sclerosis Society, St. Vincent Hospice or the Indianapolis Public Library.