Dorothy May was born on Thursday, May 13, 1937 in Sullivan Township, to parents Ernest and Ruth (Schultz) Bittorf. She was the youngest of three children, joining brother Eldon (1932) and Shirley (1934). The family soon moved from Sullivan to the 2nd of Elderslie where Dorothy enjoyed her youth.
She attended school in Chesley and as fate would have it met a young man by the name of Eldon John Lorenz. In fact, Eldon’s family lived on a neighbouring farm and was two years Dorothy’s senior. The young couple dated for a period before being married at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Chesley on March 12, 1955. The couple soon welcomed their daughter, Patsy followed by Larry in 1960 and Steven in 1963. The Lorenz’s called Chesley home as Eldon owned and operated his own backhoe business. Dorothy remained at home caring for her young family.
In the early 60’s the Lorenz family moved to the Teeswater area as Eldon received a job opportunity with the Teeswater Creamery. Here Dorothy settled into her new community and continued to put her family first. As well as looking after the home Dorothy enjoyed her close knit group of friends, often going for coffee to catch up with them.
In 1988, Dorothy and Eldon moved to Hanover to better treat her health issues. Dorothy’s kidney ailments were apparent from birth, but she worked hard to care for her body, and tried to lead a normal life. She began dialysis treatment in 1988 before receiving a kidney transplant in 1989. The couple settled into the community and considered Hanover their new home.
Dorothy continued to have a close group of friends and meeting for coffee continued to be a regular occurrence. She always had her own great sense of style, being very particular about her appearance. If the truth be told, Dorothy loved her jewelry! Necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings, costume or fine, real or fake, it didn’t matter. Dorothy loved it all. And there was one rule – “Do not touch my stuff!” Then there was Dorothy’s car. Didn’t she love her car, and rightfully so as it was the means for her to get out and visit friends. Actually, Dorothy was never one to stay home. She loved to be on the go, to be involved, to have her independence. It didn’t really matter where she was going, she just liked to go! One of her mantras could well have been “Just go do it!”
While at home, however, Dorothy enjoyed watching television, whether the Young and Restless (Y & R) or any game show. She also enjoyed music, in particular County and Western, which she passed on to the entire family. She also loved her old time hymns that were an important part of her life As for cooking the story is told of how Dorothy’s mother taught Shirley how to cook and bake but apparently did not pass it on down the line to Dorothy. However, Dorothy always prepared wonderful family meals on Sunday, as well as full holiday feasts as the holidays were an important time to gather with family. Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving were all opportunities to do what she loved best, being with family, and in later years seeing pictures of the activities and adventures of her grandchildren. She loved her grandchildren and wasn’t she proud of them! She would always pull out the pictures whenever someone would stop by.
Dorothy was feisty and also a little stubborn. Both characteristics enabled her to live as long as she did, and to live with a good quality of life. Having a great sense of humour she also called it like it was. There was no guessing with Dorothy as one always knew where she stood and she always had something to say! If one didn’t know Dorothy well, one might think that her humour was a little unusual. Dorothy taught her family well, telling them they had to treat people right! In fact, she wanted everyone to do well. Many of these traits came from Dorothy’s Mom, Ruth, who was very influential in Dorothy’s life.
If there was anything that Dorothy wrestled with, it was her health. Her kidney issues were life long and always of great concern. Perhaps it was Dorothy’s faith that gave her the strength to move forward. Her Mom Ruth often told the story of taking the horse and carriage in the middle of winter to drive the children to Sunday School at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Sullivan. Dorothy’s relationship with the church continued throughout life as she was a member of St. Matthew’s Lutheran in Hanover, however her health often limited her participation.
Sadly, Dorothy’s health declined rapidly over the last several weeks and she passed away at Hanover Care Centre on Sunday, December 10, 2017 in her 81st year.
Dorothy May Lorenz of Hanover, formerly of Teeswater, passed away at Hanover Care Centre on Sunday, December 10, 2017 in her 81st year.
She was the loving mother of Patsy (Doug) Osborne of Dundalk, Larry (Sandra) of Atwood and Steven of Elmira. Dorothy will live on in the hearts and minds of her grandchildren, Darcy, Sabrina, Staisha, Amanda, Christopher, Alicia and Heather as well as her eight great-grandchildren. She will also be missed by her sister Shirley (Carmen) Doerr of Hanover. Dorothy was predeceased by her husband Eldon, daughter-in-law Judy Lorenz, brother Eldon and her parents Ernest and Ruth (Schultz) Bittorf.
Visitation will be held at Rhody Family Funeral Home, Chesley on Thursday, December 14, 2017 from 1 p.m. until the time of the funeral service at 2 p.m. Interment in Chesley Cemetery.
Memorial donations to the Hanover & District Hospital Foundation would be appreciated as expressions of sympathy.
