Dorothy Marie Paladino

She is survived by her sister Jackie (Eddie) Lewis; her sister Patsy (Carrol) Potter; her children John (Susie) Paladino of North Little Rock, AR, Sam Paladino of Springfield, MO, Karen Robinson of North Little Rock, AR, and Bob (Debra) Paladino of Benton, AR; 9 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.

Dorothy (more often known as Mama, Mee Maw, or Aunt Dorothy) was born in Little Rock, AR on February 20, 1927, to Pete and Alwina Massery. She grew up in a loving home and enjoyed a fun and adventurous childhood with her sisters and her “true friend…the beautiful little doggie, Trixie”. Her childhood home “always smelled of something good…homemade bread, homemade soup, cookies or something scrumptious”.

Major highlights of this period of her life were trips to Conway to see her grandparents. On one of these trips to Center Ridge just north of Conway, as a 10 year old, she briefly caught a glimpse of a couple of boys from the Italian immigrant community. Later as a teenager, a friend set her up on a blind date with a young man who was about to ship off to the war as part of the Navy, and it turned out to be one of those boys, Pete.

Just like in the movies, Pete and Dorothy fell in love via letters and were engaged and married shortly after he returned. They were blessed with three sons and a daughter and “were very happy in these early years of marriage”. Countless stories are told about the childhoods of John, Sam, Karen, and Bob. Dorothy worked hard to be a great wife and a great mother, and later, she was an amazing and encouraging grandmother and great-grandmother.

As a lifelong Catholic, Dorothy’s faith was always important to her. She prayed often and in her later years shared about how much she was looking forward to seeing Jesus and Pete in Heaven.

Family get-togethers were full of joy with Dorothy right in the center of it all. She loved music and would play the piano while friends and family gathered around to sing. She was an amazing cook and loved to feed everyone. For those that hung around the kitchen, she would sneak them a piece of sausage, pot roast or whatever was on the stove.

Many of the quotes above come directly from a book that she wrote about her life titled “Mee Maw’s Story”. She was a great storyteller, and the family is extremely grateful that she captured that for us.

Dorothy loved well, and she was well-loved. She lived a full life, and for those that would like to join us in celebrating that life a rosary for Dorothy will be held Thursday, August 8, 2024 from 6:00 PM to 6:30 PM at Griffin Leggett Rest Hills Funeral Home, 7724 Landers Rd., North Little Rock, AR 72117. A visitation will occur Thursday, August 8, 2024 from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM, 7724 Landers Rd., North Little Rock, AR 72117. A funeral mass will occur Friday, August 9, 2024 at 10:30 AM at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 7000 John F. Kennedy Blvd., N. Little Rock, Arkansas 72116. A burial will occur Friday, August 9, 2024 at 12:00 PM at Rest Hills Memorial Park, 7724 Landers Rd, North Little Rock, Arkansas 72117.

Serving as pallbearers are Joey Uhiren, Chris Paladino, Michael Paladino, Andy Venne, Andy Paladino, Peter Michael Paladino, Jeremy Paladino, and honorary pallbearer, Dave Fairley.