Dodie Danoski

When reflecting on the life Eudora “Dodie” Danoski, it is easy to see that in her eyes, age is just a number. She was so active and full of life with just the right amount of spunk mixed in. Dodie was the matriarch of her family, and there was nothing she treasured more than becoming a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother later in life. She was devout in her faith, and no matter what came her way she counted it all as joy. Life will never be the same without Dodie here, but she leaves behind a timeless legacy that her loved ones will proudly carry on in her footsteps.

It was great to be an American during the exciting days of the Roaring Twenties when innovation brought us new conveniences like the washing machine, the refrigerator, and cars that were mass produced on assembly lines from coast to coast. It was also during this time that Edna and Elmer (Wines) Marshall were filled with great joy to announce the birth of the baby girl they named Eudora on September 4, 1922, in Taylorville, Illinois. One of two, she was raised in the family home in Lowell, Michigan, alongside her brother, Edwin "Bud" Marshall. Dodie attended local schools and graduated from high school when she was just 16. As a young woman she went to Chicago to study fashion design, but she returned to help with the farm when her father became ill. During the war effort she worked in a sparkplug factory for the military aircraft. She spoke of how they would show them propaganda films depicting American aviators going down in their aircraft due to faulty sparkplugs. Dodie used her interest in fashion to become a seamstress, and over the years she made so many things including several wedding and bridesmaids dresses, competitive ice skating costumes, and clothes for her children.

New and exciting changes were in store for Dodie when she met the young man of her dreams. His name was Edward “Danny” Danoski, and they met in a dance club where they spent the night dancing to live big band swing music. It was love at first sight, and Edward proposed to Dodie just three weeks later. Interestingly, they were married twice as they were united in marriage in a legal ceremony on October 4, 1944. To make it official is Danny’s mother’s eyes they had a Catholic ceremony on November 6th of that same year. This marked the beginning of a new chapter in a love story that would span more than 56 years. After trying for 10 years, together they were so thrilled to welcome the birth of their baby boy, Daniel, as they had suffered the loss of their daughter, Mary Faith, when Dodie had been nearly full-term two years prior. Their family was later completed with the births of David and Elizabeth.

Over the years Dodie’s modest home was open to so many. They only had three small bedrooms and one bathroom, but it was always enough. While trying to start a family of their own, they opened their home to their orphaned nephew, Joe, who lived in Pennsylvania at the time. Joe finished high school and then entered the Army, and his young daughter later came to live with them while Joe finished his tours in Vietnam. Their home was also opened to a niece who was going through beauty school, three close friends of her children’s at different times, and a great-nephew-in-law. Not only were Dodie and her husband so welcoming but they also had a way of bridging the generation gap as they also had friends who ranged in age from several years older than they were to several years younger. Their home also included several pets of all kinds over the years. Dodie was the one to host for all family holidays, birthdays, and events, and her holiday meals were second to none. Especially her candied Yams and her fruit salad.

There were so many things that kept Dodie busy over the years. She converted to Catholicism when she met her husband, and faith always played an important role in her life. Dodie lived what she believed and exemplified what it means to serve others both in her home and in the world as she was very active with St. Mary’s Church, volunteered collecting from door to door for the March of Dimes, and also volunteered at the local polling location, with the Knights of Columbus, and with the women’s auxiliary of the postal workers. Prior to raising her family she worked at Precast, and in the mid seventies Dodie worked as a bookkeeper at St. Mary's Parish until retiring. She enjoyed nature and traveling, and as a family all of their vacations were road trips. Over the years Dodie also made several trips to Florida. She and her mother would buy a family pass to the nature center. Beside visiting as a family, she involved the children in many of the workshops, presentations and special exhibits they offered. She enjoyed witty humor like comedy television shows M*A*S*H, Frasier, Golden Girls, Carol Burnett, and Mary Tyler Moore. She was an avid game show enthusiast; she enjoyed watching the replays of the game shows from the 70’s and comment on the fashions, hairstyles, and the prize merchandise. In the later years it was Family Feud and Cash Cab. Dodie wasn’t afraid to go camping in a tent with her grandsons with a sleeping bag for the first time in her life when she was in her eighties and even gave the family such a laugh when she got so involved in a lively card game at Thanksgiving that she ended up working her pantyhose all the way down to her knees under the table! Dodie loved to socialize with family and friends, and she and her husband participated in the acts for St. Mary’s in the Kalamazoo Catholic fundraiser, 6 Carat Cabaret, for several years in the seventies. Dodie loved to dance with Danny whenever they had a chance. They moved on the dance floor as one.

All who knew Eudora “Dodie” Danoski would agree that she was one of the most loving, kindhearted, and selfless people around. Her home was always open, and through her acts of service she made a significant impact in the lives of so many. It was easy to see that Dodie was married to the love of her life, and together they provided a shining example of what marriage is truly intended to be. She was the rock of her family, and there was nothing she cherished more than being surrounded by their love. Deeply cherished, Dodie will be forever missed.

Eudora “Dodie” Danoski, age 97, formerly of Kalamazoo died on Monday, November 18, 2019 in Lake Zurich IL. Surviving members of her family include 2 sons: Daniel (Katie) Danoski of Galesburg and David of Spring Grove IL, 8 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Besides her husband she was preceded in death by a baby girl, Mary Faith, a daughter Elizabeth Cronen and a brother Edwin “Bud” Marshall. Visit with family and friends on Sunday (Nov. 24) from 2-4 p.m. at the Betzler Life Story Funeral Home, 6080 Stadium Drive; Kalamazoo (269) 375-2900 where a Rosary will be prayed at 4 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Monday, (Nov. 25) at 10 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 939 Charlotte Ave. Burial will be at Ft. Custer National Cemetery. Please visit Dodie’s personal web page at www.BetzlerLifeStory.com, where you can archive a favorite memory or photo and sign her online guestbook before coming to the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to The American Heart Association or your local no kill shelter