Dorothy Shields

Dorothy M. Shields was a beautiful woman, inside and out. She was sweet, positive, loyal, caring, committed, and active. Her love for her husband, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren was deep and her faith in God was strong. Her optimistic outlook on life attracted others to her and she never lacked for friends. She truly loved life and all the people who graced her years with happiness.

Dorothy was born during a decade of change in America, from assembly line manufacturing to women’s suffrage, faster Model Ts to ragtime bands, silent motion pictures to shorter hemlines. In Kalamazoo, Michigan, William and Genevieve (Robischung) Ehlert welcomed their second child Dorothy on September 23, 1912. While her mother cared for the children at home, her father supported the family as a superintendent of Dutton Company. Her brother Joseph was two years older than Dorothy, just close enough to be the best of friends and the greatest of pests toward one another. He teased her and she played tricks on him. Still, they maintained a close relationship throughout their lives.

Dorothy grew up on Clinton Avenue in Kalamazoo. Many of her relatives lived nearby, and were very dear to Dorothy and her family. She thoroughly enjoyed visiting her relatives on their potato farm in Greenville. Dorothy and her family enjoyed family outings at area lakes.

Dorothy’s Catholic faith influenced the way she lived her entire life. She attended St. Joseph School as a member of that parish church. Already in grade school, she started playing piano and cultivated a love for music that continued well beyond her school years. Another form of entertainment that followed her into adulthood was card-playing. She loved to play pinochle and made such games a social activity when she invited friends to her home.

In high school, Dorothy met the young man who became her husband. Little did she know one day when she wore her red sweater, that it was just the color to catch Robert Shields’s eye. Dorothy and Bob dated in high school and both graduated from St. Augustine High School in 1930. Though they were the same age, he continually reminded her that he was younger than she, if only by a few months.

As their love and commitment grew, Dorothy and Bob decided to get married. They made their vows before Fr. Grace on November 28, 1936 at St. Joseph Church. They began their family when their daughter Patricia was born, followed by Joan, Kathleen and Michael. Dorothy and Bob decided to build their family home in 1941. The address on Grand Avenue became the home in which Dorothy lived until 2007. It was the perfect place for her to raise her children, tend her rock garden and entertain friends and family.

Dorothy enjoyed entertaining. She always had a pot of coffee and a plate of cookies available, and a candy dish that was always full. She enjoyed playing bridge and having lunch with her friends. She invited friends to many social events in her home. She and Bob hosted an annual family 4th of July picnic for many years.

She offered her time and energy to Borgess Associates, Workers of Mary’s, March of Dimes and cancer drives, as well as to leading Girl Scouts and preparing St. Augustine Church for weekend services. Dorothy was active all her life. For a time, she worked two days a week at Cooper’s Perfume and Hand Bag Shop after each of her daughters had worked there as well. When it closed, Dorothy moved on and dedicated more of her time volunteering for St. Vincent de Paul Society. At the age of 70, Dorothy’s children bought her a bike to help keep her in shape for her active life.

Dorothy and Bob had a wonderful life together. They enjoyed traveling, being with family, friends, grand children and great-grandchildren. They loved being grandparents and having the children visit.

After Bob died in 1993, Dorothy continued to stay active. She went to church and social functions, volunteered, spent time with friends, continued to enjoy cultural events with her sister-in-law, Mary Shields. Dorothy was a “night owl” enjoying late night TV, phone calls, and visits. After moving to The Springs she continued her late night activities playing Skip-Bo with several of her aides.

When she experienced congestive heart failure, Dorothy moved from her home to assisted living in July of 2007. She died Tuesday, March 18, 2008 in Kalamazoo at the age of 95.

Dorothy was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and a dear friend to many. She gave generously of her time to many volunteer organizations and to her church. Her family and friends will miss her, even as they remember her love and joy.

Dorothy’s family includes her four children: Patricia (Robert) White of Kalamazoo, Joan (Philip) Carey of Kalamazoo, Kathleen (Stephen) Parker of Spring Lake and Michael (Joanna) Shields of Kalamazoo; eight grandchildren: Susan (Roger) Rathburn, Meghan and Brian Carey; Elizabeth Parker, A.J., Kaitlyn, Cameron and Patrick Shields; three great-grandchildren: Amanda, Andrew and Emily Rathburn; her sister-in-law, Mary Shields of Kalamazoo; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Shields; and by her brother, Joseph Ehlert. Learn more about Dorothy, view her Life Story film, and visit with her family and friends on Monday from 5:00 – 7:00 PM at the Life Story Funeral Home, Betzler-Kalamazoo 6080 Stadium Drive, 375-2900 where a prayer service will held at 6:30 PM that evening. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday 10:30 AM at St. Augustine Cathedral. Interment Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Following the burial, food and fellowship will be shared at the Fr. Crowley Cathedral Center. Please visit Dorothy’s personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you may archive a memory or photo, sign her memory book, or make a memorial contribution to St. Augustine School Endowment Fund, St. Vincent DePaul or Hospice of Southwest Michigan.