Dorothy I. Birchfield

Beloved Wife, Mother, Homemaker, Caretaker.

She loved her family, and as time went on; her family and other people became increasingly important to her.

She often told stories, as being the oldest of six kids, of taking care of her siblings while growing up in and after the Great Depression, especially after her parents separated and her mother worked. Later in life she provided many years of end-of-life care for family members: first her mother-in-law, then her mother, her husband for as long as she could, and 42 years of caring for her special-needs youngest daughter. All those many years – most of her entire life - as a caregiver were remarkable and dedicated out of love at its best.

In her last days, she often said her favorite memories were of her 7 kids. She was preceded in death by three of them: Patty Birchfield, Kay Draney, and Jennie Conner as well as her Husband James Birchfield. She is survived by her four remaining children: Jimmy Birchfield, Will Birchfield, Rachiel Draney, and Alex Birchfield. She is also survived by 12 of her 14 grandchildren, 29 of her 30 great grandchildren, and 5 great-great grandchildren.

Her spirit was like a feisty little terrier, and she could be a bit of a bulldog at times too. That likely contributed to her long life. Despite being the oldest child of six, she was also the last of her generation to pass on.

She often told her kids and grandkids, “Don’t give me that shit! You can do anything if you put your mind to it!” She would often smile and laugh as she told the story of the first time she saw her soon-to-be husband - Jim Birchfield while working at Fort Carson. Right then and there she turned to her girlfriend and said, “I’m going to marry that man someday.” And so six weeks later she did, just days after turning 17. She went on to raise 5 children, often while her husband was deployed fighting in WW II, Korea and Vietnam. She then took it upon herself to earn her GED in 1972 at age 45 while raising her next two children and running a subsistence farm in West Virginia where she and her husband “retired” in 1965. Eventually she, her husband, and their youngest and special-needs daughter moved back to Denver, Colorado in 1983 to take care of her ailing mother. She was often like the little engine going up the hill, “I think I can. I think I can. I know I can!” She was resourceful and definitely had a fighting spirit, right up until the end.

Despite her fighting spirit, she would often sing to her children as toddlers, “You are my sunshine,” and other such songs and lullabies. She also came into an amazing state of gracefulness, especially in her last couple of years which was a beautiful thing to witness and a gift all its own.

In her younger years she loved to dance. For decades she volunteered with the Special Olympics and took her special-needs daughter all over Colorado to compete in everything from skiing to swimming to bowling and more. She and her daughter also volunteered at the Denver VA Hospital and the Senior (Westwood Community) Center also in Denver. As her health declined, she continued to attend and looked forward to Senior Center activities and attending Church. In May 2018 she went to Omaha, NE, where two of her remaining daughters lived.

On Friday May 29, 2020 at about 10 am, EMS was called and she was taken from Papillion Manor – a long term care facility - to Bergan Mercy hospital in Omaha, NE due to rapidly declining vital signs. After limited tests it was determined she was in organ failure. She accepted the magnitude of the situation with grace. She was ready. Her thoughts were for her children and meeting, “the good Lord in Heaven.”

Shortly after that, hospital staff removed her oxygen and IV but continued to provide comfort care.

At first, as she began to drift in & out of sleep; she maintained her sense of humor and continued to let her children know how much they were loved.

Around 2:30 pm two of her kids made a conference call and each, one by one, told her they loved her. She told them one by one she loved them too. Shortly after that her other son called and they had a similar conversation, this time she was even more lucid.

About 3:30 pm she laughed again. Then she said, “I love all you kids; and am thankful for what you have done for me." Those were her last words. Her family takes great comfort in her final parting words as gifts and another act of grace.

A few hours later, and just minutes before her passing; 3 of her children made another conference call and got to tell her again that we loved her and that whenever she was ready; it was OK to let go. A few minutes later she was gone. She passed about 9:50 pm Omaha time. Her daughter stayed with her until the end holding her hand, filling her with endless love, affirming that she was cherished and will be at peace upon joining her husband and 3 daughters who were already waiting on the other side.

She and her surviving children were blessed that she had the opportunity to speak to her kids and have one of her children by her side, holding her hand until she took her last breath.

While the family takes great comfort in knowing she had the absolute best final years and send-off possible; still we will miss her. We will also honor her life by applying and living the many lessons she taught us, including her fighting spirit.

Her body will be flown back to her beloved Colorado where she will be interred at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, Colorado with her beloved husband James Birchfield and daughter Patricia Birchfield.

In lieu of flowers; the family asks that a donation be made to the Special Olympics in Dorothy’s name.