Dorothy Sanson

She grew up on Tracy Avenue in Euclid, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland, with her brothers Frank, Dennis, and Bob. Dorothy graduated from Euclid Central High School and soon after attended Fenn College. While studying for a degree in accounting at Fenn College, she met the love of her life, Chuck Sanson. Unfortunately, Chuck was called to duty during the Korean War and was gone for several years. While Chuck was overseas, Dorothy continued her education and soon got a job as a secretary and accounting assistant.

When the Korean War ended, Dorothy and Chuck were married in September of 1955 at Holy Cross Church in Euclid, Ohio. Chuck got a job as a traveling salesman that took them to cities like Philadelphia, Cleveland, New York, Charlotte, and Raleigh. During this time their family grew as Jeff, David, Jeanine, and Jeriann were born. Since Chuck was on the road 5 days a week, it was up to Dorothy to raise and care for the family most of the time. It was important to them that the kids be brought up in the Christian faith and they attended church regularly.

Eventually, this young family of six moved back to the Cleveland area, buying a home in Mentor, Ohio. They found a church home in the newly built St. Bede the Venerable Catholic Church where Dorothy, gifted with a beautiful singing voice, joined the choir. Chuck’s talents moved him to serve as a lector during Masses while the boys performed as altar boys. While in Mentor, Chuck and Dorothy served on the local home owners’ board as welcome committee members greeting and entertaining new families moving into the Pinegate Subdivision where they lived. After living in Ohio for 10 years, Dorothy and Chuck were transferred to Houston, Texas, which at the time was having rapid economic growth.

After 3 years in Houston, Chuck was diagnosed with lung cancer and died in 1979 at the age of 49. At this time, Dorothy’s faith established her as the family’s rock to lean on while setting a strong example for a heartbroken family dealing with the pain and loss. Financial instability and mounting bills soon forced Dorothy back into the job market full time where she flourished many years as a secretary and office manager for several different companies. When computers became so important to the economic fabric of industry and communication, she jumped on board learning the technical skills required.

In 1988 oldest daughter and young mother, Jeanine, was diagnosed with cancer and passed away a few months later at the age of 28. The family members once again turned to Dorothy as the shining example of faith and resilience during the darkest of times.

As was her nature, she continued to work tirelessly to make the family stronger through organizing family gatherings where her cooking and hospitality skills shined. She recorded these many events with photography and video. She attended most family events no matter what part of the country and enjoyed attending sporting events supporting her kids and grandkids.

In 2005, Dorothy was hired by Christ the King Lutheran Church in Kingwood, Texas as an office worker making use of her computer and secretarial skills until her retirement in 2014 on her 83rd birthday. She soon after endured a stroke which left her wheelchair bound, paralyzed on her left side, and nearly blind in her left eye. Once again, she stayed faithful, didn’t feel sorry for herself, and moved forward showing grace and dignity.

Throughout these later years, her mind remained sharp. Using her impressive computer skills, she continued to handle her own finances and medical needs while staying in touch with the family through social media and emails. Her Sunday mornings were often filled with watching YouTube simulcasts of services and Masses across the U.S., topped off with the Texans game at noon.

She was admitted to the hospital on November 19th for a hip replacement and congestion in her lungs. Her final hours on December 6th were spent with family members at her bedside. She is survived by her brother Frank Kokos, brother Bob Kokos and wife Patricia, daughter Jeriann, son David, son Jeff and daughter in law Dawn. She will also be missed by her grandchildren Angela Sanson, Chaz Sanson and wife Meg, Carolyn Scott and husband Josh, Nicholas Sanson and wife Daniella, Stephanie Marsh and husband Jordan, and Samantha Sanson. Dorothy is also survived by her great grandchildren, Vanna and Quincy Scott, Case Sanson, and Mary Kate, Hadley, Molly, and Hanna Marsh.