On Monday, May 27, Lydia's wonderful mother peacefully passed away. Through this page, you can show your love and support, no matter where you're located, via gift cards to things like food delivery, groceries, cleaning services, and self-care packages. In addition, in lieu of flowers, the family has asked for donations to the following organizations that were important to Dottie: Petoskey Area Garden Club: https://petoskeygarden.club/ Planned Parenthood: https://www.weareplannedparenthoodaction.org/KDlEsm4r6EizP0SdpEj8Fg2?fb=true Emmanuel Parish Garden or Music Funds: https://eecpetoskey.org/ Please also use this page as a place to share your works of love and support to Lydia and family. +++ Dorothy Hawthorne Obituary “No matter what activity, it was always a bright day in life if I was with Dottie!” –tribute from a friend Dorothy Mable Hawthorne, beloved wife & mother, peacefully departed this life at home with family present, on Memorial Day, May 27, 2024. Since December of 2022, she had courageously faced multiple health issues beginning with the first of several strokes. She was 75 at the time of her death. Dottie was born to Willard & Jane Dilts on 11/18/1948 in Gratiot Co., Michigan, one of five siblings who grew up there in Ithaca. Always a good student, she particularly loved the sciences. After earning a B.S. from Michigan State (“Go Green!”), she began her career as a laboratory medical technologist; including work at Kalamazoo’s Bronson Hospital. In the early 1980’s, Dottie also spent an interesting year as Librarian of the Shedd Aquarium, in Chicago. While altering focus to medical librarianship in 1978--as she earned an M.L.S. at Western Michigan University—she met her future husband & fellow librarian, Frank W. Hawthorne, Jr. They married in Ithaca on May 15, 1982, at First Presbyterian, and recently celebrated their 42nd wedding anniversary. In 1981, Dottie began work in the Mayo (Clinic) Medical Library; and it was there in Rochester, MN that the Hawthornes raised their two children, Simon & Lydia (Stephen) Hawthorne Taruc. They were with her at the end; and are a loving testimony to her amazing parenting skills. Other family survivors include her sisters Penny (Jeff) Arnold & Cheri(Phil) Booth, sister-in-law Jeanette Dilts, brother-in-law, Jamie(Sally) Hawthorne, and numerous cousins, nieces & nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Sue Dilts, brother Bill, and sister-in-law Martha Hawthorne. Faith was always important to Dottie, and her lay leadership skills were well known to parish families in both MN (Calvary Episcopal. Rochester) & MI (Emmanuel Episcopal, Petoskey); expressed capably via misc. service in areas like Outreach, Refugee Resettlement, Altar Guild, Vestry, and Choir. Through the decades, she was formally honored for her service by both the dioceses of Minnesota & W. Michigan. Dottie was an avid gardener; and in retirement—when not tending her own beds--had been active in the Petoskey Area Garden Club. Her love of plants extended to wildflowers; and the wondrous woods of N. Michigan, where she enjoyed cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and walking in nature preserves. For several years, she was a leader of the regional Sierra Club chapter. True to her profession, Dottie was a brainy bookworm; she spent many retirement hours reading for pleasure, or in service to the several book groups she belonged to or helped lead. Peace & justice issues meant a lot; and one way Dottie expressed this (in both MN & MI) was via grassroots activism in Democratic-party politics. In recent years, she served on the Emmet Co. Democratic Party board. She & Frank worked the doors for numerous campaigns; plus hosted interesting speakers/advocates in their home. Another passion in recent years was travel; and Dottie & Frank enjoyed misc. tours (& occasional mission trips), both domestic & foreign. A memorial service (w. communion & streamed for those not present) for Dorothy M. Hawthorne will take place at 10 a.m. on Monday, June 3, 2024, in Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Petoskey; followed by a light lunch in the parish hall. Internment of cremated remains will be in the EEC Chapel. The family requests no flowers; but memorial donations--to the Petoskey Area Garden Club, Planned Parenthood, or to the Emmanuel parish garden, or music funds—will be greatly appreciated. Our lives in hope of the resurrection are reflected in the beauty of God’s creation!