Dorothy Castor

Castor, Dorothy Jeane 8/28/1926 - 2/4/2023 Kalamazoo, Michigan CASTOR, Dorothy J (Packard) 08.28.1926 - 02.04.2023 of Kalamazoo, MI Dorothy Castor of Kalamazoo passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, February 4, 2023, after 96 years of fully living life. Born to George and Mary (Breyfogle) Packard in her grandparents' home in Covert, Michigan, Dorothy was the 4th of 6 children. Here she grew to love THE Lake (Lake Michigan), cultivate lifetime friendships, and develop an adventurous, fiery spirit which she passed along to her family. Following graduation from Covert High School in 1944, she first attended nursing school; graduating from Western Michigan College of Teaching in 1949. She taught in several MI communities including Coloma and Kalamazoo in the 1950s, married briefly and joyfully became Mom to Jeffrey Tuma, Family lore has it that although the Castors and the Packards had numerous interactions (the grandparents' homes were just across a stream from one another) Dorothy didn't meet Halson Castor the summer of 1961. Married in December of that year at First Presbyterian Church, Dorothy joined Hal and daughter Nancy in their new family at the home you are all familiar with. Daughter Carol filled the family in 1962 at which time Dorothy left teaching to raise her family alongside Hal. Golf, friends, bridge, entertaining, decorating, traveling, family, reading, corresponding, the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra League (particularly the instrument petting zoo), Kalamazoo Civic Theatre, KIA, WMU Miller Auditorium - all of these were embraced with Dorothy's endless energy. Everyone experienced her vitality from different perspectives - family, friends, passersby; all of them potential friends, so many of them part of little families in her circle. The number of people she knew well are astounding, some merely from them walking past her home with their dogs or back-packs. Trust us, she knew your story, loved hearing your news, and sharing her opinion. Friendships grew at coffee shops, the gas station, or the lobby of any event. A major source of Dorothy's strength was her First Presbyterian Church family, where she was active in guilds, circles, and reading clubs throughout her life, as well as serving as a Deacon for a number of years. Her family thanks all of you for sharing your friendship with her and now with us. Dorothy was preceded in death by husband Hal, son Jeff, parents, siblings Russel Packard (Julia), Norman Packard (Jackie), Marjorie Packard, Herman Packard (Barbara), Phyliss Elkins, several nieces, nephews, cousins and son-in-law Tom Brignall. Surviving to wonder what else she had to tell us are her amazing friends, neighbors, daughter Nancy Brignall, grandson Tom Brignall (Suzie Brignall), granddaughter Hallie Brignall (Cameron Chacon), daughter Carol Swanson (Bob), grandsons Joseph Swanson (Amy Smith) and Michael Swanson (Jade Nguyen Swanson), and great-granddaughters Evie and Lily; many in the Castor clan and cousins Bill Breyfogel and Lyle Packard among others. We cannot thank enough the caretakers at both Bronson Hospital and Rose Arbor Hospice for their skill, love and compassion in taking such care of Dorothy in her last days. Services and a Celebration of Life are being planned for April 29th at First Presbyterian Church, Kalamazoo, Michigan. Committal service at Ft. Custer National Cemetery on May 1st. She was fond of flowers, however in lieu of cutting them down, plant a few in your own yard, donate to the many KIA, FPC, KSO organizations reaching students through music and art, or the Rose Arbor Hospice. In the meantime, share a meal with friends, walk in the sun, write a letter, or otherwise cherish the moment in front of you, as Dorothy was so fond of doing.