Dorothy Catherine Lee

Dorothy Lee, “Dottie,” nearly 93 years old, daughter of the late Benjamin Franco & Caroline Souza Franco, passed away, surrounded by loved ones on Monday, June 24,2024.

Dottie was born in Paia hospital on October 4, 1931, & was the last survivor of her 11 brothers & sisters. She was raised in Kaupakalua, Maui, growing up without electricity, running water or indoor plumbing. They had an outdoor stone oven and lived off the land & off grid, which Dottie later felt was the best of times.

At the young age of 13 Dottie dropped out of school to work & help provide for her family. She was sent off to Oahu & worked as a live-in maid, caring for children, doing laundry, cleaning, cooking & creating meals. Dottie taught herself to cook & bake by reading library books. She sent every cent she made back home to Kaupakalua.

Dottie went on to pick pineapple for a short time, worked for a family on Maui, & a little restaurant in Haleakala Crater.

Dottie met & later married Frank K. Lee Jr. at the age of 24. They were married for 66 years. She & Jr. had 5 children that they raised in Kokomo, Maui. Here she spent a big part of her life being an incredible mother & homemaker. With Dottie’s love & passion for both cooking & baking, she served amazing meals from scratch, created feasts at every holiday with pies, breads, cookies, specialty decorated cakes & savory meals. She also pickled, roasted, & preserved!

Dottie also taught herself to sew & sewed many of her children’s clothes, including her daughter Brenda’s wedding gown & bridesmaid dresses as well as hula halau outfits & Halloween costumes.

Dorothy was social & fun loving, she participated in Halloween dress up, volunteered as a Girl Scout leader for the young Daisies, sold Mary Kay beauty products & Tupperware.

She showed her children how to crochet, embroider, arrange flowers, make jewelry, sew, bake & cook. She took exercise classes & Yoga & would stand on her head in the middle of the living room!

Dottie also had a brave and adventurous spirit! She hiked in & out of Haleakal¯a crater, played on a women’s softball team in Haiku called the “Wicked Waihines,” & traveled all over the world.

She & her family went on camping trips in Makena, Poli Poli, Wainapanapa, & Haleakala as well as camping at the Sacramento River.

Being an avid reader, Dottie made sure that books were available to her family by saving up and purchasing their very own set of “Book of Knowledge” encyclopedias, a huge dictionary, and the Brothers Grimm fairy tales! Although her family didn’t have a clothes dryer in rainy Haiku & had only one bathroom for 7 people, for her, books and instilling a love of reading was more important.

Dottie was also a hard worker, & pushed herself to attend night school where she earned her GED. She accomplished this gained employment at Kula San Hospital in the kitchen, worked & retired there after 13 years.

Dottie, always busy, went back to work part time for H&R Block during tax season, moved on to being head baker at Foodland bakery & later at Pukalani Superette cooking & prepping in their kitchen.

During these various jobs Dottie made lifelong friends, who joined her on her first trip to Europe! She later went back to Europe three more times enjoying England, Ireland, Whales, Scotland, Portugal, Spain, Belgium, Holland, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Italy/The Vatican, France, Isle of Capri, & Monaco. She went to England a total of 5 times! In the U.S.A. she traveled to Massachusetts, Vermont, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, California, Oregon, and Canada. She went RV-ing in Northern California & while in her 60’s even went white water rafting in Oregon, rafting down a level #5 rapid, backwards! Dottie was an adventurous soul for sure!

With Dottie’s extraordinary spirit & sense of family, & selflessness, she visited & helped her sisters & her immediate family, especially in their time of need, she would drive or fly, when necessary, to help. She was a dedicated daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother & friend.

Dottie will be greatly missed by her children; Brenda, Wendy, Penny, Casey & Chad, her grandchildren; Corey, Justin, Alexis, Zachary, Ali, Sierra & Nikki and great grandchildren; Taika, Roan, River, & Lehua, all of whom meant the world to her.

The family of Dorothy Catherine Franco Lee wish to extend their sincere thanks to the team at Maui Hospice, especially Janelle, Nalani & Joan who not only gave her great care but who found a place in Dottie’s heart with their love, laughter, friendship & compassion. They went above and beyond & the family will forever be grateful.

Dottie has left a hole in our hearts. She will be deeply missed by her family & all who knew & loved her. Dottie always said, “travel while you can, go out & see the world!” Her favorite mantra when she was younger was, “Go for It!” & in her 90’s when someone said, “I love you”, her response was always. “I love you 2, 3, 4 and more!” Dottie, your family loves you 5, 6, and 7, and they will see you in Heaven!” Go for it, there is nothing holding you back now...

Service to be held at Normans on Saturday July 27, 2024, at 10:00AM.

Arrangements by Norman's MortuaryOnline condolences can be made at www.normansmortuary.com