Dorothy Serve

With a life that spanned nearly a century, Dorothy Serve leaves behind a deeply embedded footprint in the world around her to be sure, but also in the hearts of so many within her reach. With her unwavering faith as her constant companion, Dottie’s grace and compassion reflect what it truly means to be the hands and feet of the Lord she loved. A devoted wife and mother, there was nothing that made her more proud than the plentiful branches that now grace her family tree with the generations who will reach a time and place far beyond her grasp. A gift in the lives of so many, Dottie will be deeply missed.

Life in America during the early 1900s was a time of great struggle in many ways. With unsafe working conditions and a lack of child labor laws, it was the youngest generation who often paid the highest price. As WWI brewed overseas in 1916, America had high hopes of remaining neutral, yet it was during the following year that those hopes were dashed as our nation engaged in the fight for the freedoms we still enjoy today. Despite these times of unrest, this same year was one of great joy for one young couple from Kankakee, Illinois, since they were pleased to announce the birth of a baby girl on May 21st. Baby Dorothy was born near the railroad tracks on the west side of Kankakee into the family of Thomas O. and Lena B. (Miller) Thornton. Her father was Irish while her mother was Dutch, and she was one of five children in her family including her two brothers, Cecil and Paul, and her two sisters, Ruby and Bessie. Money was scarce in the Thornton family and since her father was a railroad worker he was seldom home. Everyone in their family worked hard including the children, and Dottie also attended Franklin Grade School in Kankakee. She went on to Bradley High School but when her mother became ill, Dottie left school at the age of 16 to help tend to the needs of her mother. Her mother lost her battle with cancer when Dottie was just 16. Understandably so, this was a difficult transition for Dottie.

For many years Dottie worked hard in a variety of industries. For a time she worked as an inspector at Bear Brand Hosiery in Kankakee, which was work she hated, but it was an opportunity to put some money in her pocket. Dottie later worked in sales for Mr. Grapey at the Bon Marche Clothing Store - a dress shop in Kankakee. She truly enjoyed her work and remained there for seven years until she retired in 1961.

Nothing was ever of greater importance to Dottie than her family. She met and married a young man named Eugene Brouillette. Dottie always fondly recalled dancing the night away with him at the Aragon and Trion back in the mid-thirties, and he preceded her in death . She then married Richard Dodds and after his death she married Steven Serve in June of 1961and he preceded her in death on August 23, 1991.

Dottie enjoyed being a wife, yet being a mother was her highest calling. She was blessed with three sons, Eugene, Kendall, and Michael, and two daughters, Marcia and Bonny. Throughout her life Dottie always treasured the time she spent with her family, which later grew to include grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.

As the years went by Dottie was always one who liked to be busy with whatever she could find to do. She was continually looking for ways she could help others whether in ways great or small. In fact, there was nothing Dottie wouldn’t do if it was a way she could help someone in need. She was delighted to be honored with a 20 year service cup from her local Meals on Wheels program. Faith played an important role in Dottie’s life, and she was a longtime member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Bradley. She was active at her church as long as she was able including in their women’s society. Dottie could often be found reading her Bible or books from Joel Osteen, and she also liked keeping up with current events by reading newspapers and magazines. She was an avid sewer who said that she sewed until her finger refused to sew any longer.

In addition to her family, Dottie had many other great loves in her life. She had a special place in her heart for animals including little dogs. Dottie was always more than willing to dog-sit for anyone who asked. She loved looking at baby pictures, so she cut them out from wherever she could find them, and she also liked making walking canes. Dottie loved great food, but she was partial to fruit and anything fruity in flavor. Easter was her favorite holiday, and summer was her favorite season because she loved music in the park. She had dear female friends who were instrumental in her life including Mrs. Doris Wood, Mrs. Judy Dawson, and Mrs. Linda Larson.

A lifelong resident of the Kankakee area, Dorothy Serve was a remarkable woman. She was gentle and mild-mannered, yet she also had a rather adventurous side that emerged when she took off on the back of a motorcycle or on the open waters aboard a boat. Dottie was forever looking for ways she could serve others and delighted in the family she treasured. She will be deeply missed and warmly remembered.

Dorothy M. (Dottie) Serve died at Heritage Village on October 30, 2011. Dottie’s family includes two sons, Eugene (Vickey) Brouillette of Minnetonka, MN and Kendall (Kathi) Dodds of Bourbonnais, IL; two daughters, Marcia Dickman of Springfield, IL and Bonny (Millard) Sullivan of Baldwinsville, NY; two step sons, Steven (Ellen) Serve of Bradley, IL and Pete (Maureen) Serve of Eureka, MO; step daughter, Janice LeCocq of Lake Villa, IL; as well as several grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Dottie was preceded in death by her parents; husbands; son, Michael Brouillette; daughter-in-law, Donna Brouillette; two brothers, Cecil Thornton and Paul Thornton; and two sisters, Ruby Westfall and Bessie Rantz. A time of gathering will be on Saturday, November 5, 2011 from 10:00 a.m. up to time of the memorial service at 11:00 a.m. at the Schreffler Life Story Funeral Home, Kankakee Chapel with Rev Andy Anthony officiating. Burial will be in Mound Grove Cemetery. Memorials are for the Wesley United Methodist Church. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you can leave a memory or sign the online guestbook.