Mrs. Dorothy May Grace Sgantas

Dorothy May Sgantas (Dotty), died Sept. 20, 2010 near 11:30 pm at 88 years from Sepsis, Conjestive Heart Failure, Alzheimers, and a low immune system. Dorothy was admitted to CCU Palomar Pomerado Hospital from Escondido Care Center for 7 days. She then died a few days later at Villa Palmerado, Poway under The Elizabeth Hospice Care. Her daughters and immediate family kept constant companionship & showered love on her during this time. Dorothy was born in Cleveland, Ohio to the proud parents of Rose & Herbert Grace on December 5, 1921. Her ancestors were originally from Europe. Her maternal grandmother was from Germany and her grandfather was from Vienna, Austria. Her mother, Rose, lost her parents at an early age, but was born in Ohio. Dorothy's ancestors on her father's side were paternally from Ireland and maternally from Scotland; later both moved to Canada. Her father Herbert Grace was born in Pennsylvania. Dorothy had a sister named Nell and a long-time friend called Gail whom she kept correspondence with for many years. She worked for the Red Cross and Security during WW11. In earlier years, she worked at her mother's boarding home and restaurants in Ohio and then her parents' owned restaurant in California. Dorothy married Leon J. Sgantas, WW11 Veteran on July 3, 1948 in California. They had 8 children: John, Rosalene, Petrina, Gregory, Loretta, Vincent, Michele and Dominic. They also had 16 grandchildren and 10 great-grand children. Dorothy had a general well-rounded education but eventually studied for many years, voice and music. Her mother worked long hours at restaurants she owned to pay for this education. Rose, her mother, was an excellent seamstress and made all Dorothy's stage clothes. Dorothy modeled in her 20's and also did hair commercials for a short time. Dorothy Sgantas studied Voice under numerous trained persons: a famous opera singer named Idelle Moye; also Doria Bali (who owned a Music School that taught Drama & Voice lessons); she also studied music and voice under Pietro Chimini who conducted the Italian Orchestra; she also sang for Frank Fortiers Theatre in the 1940's on Sunday evenings located on Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles after World War 11. Dorothy Sgantas sang for her community, weddings, funerals and the San Francisco Opera. She also sang Italian, German and French songs and had several 78 LP Record recordings done for her. Dorothy Sgantas also had a couple of singing engagements with Judy Garland. Dorothy was very artistic: she oil painted many great looking pictures, and enjoyed doing pottery. She loved to grow things from seeds, especially little avocado trees. Baking breads, pastries and fruit cobblers (using fruit from her own backyard small orchard) and jams was another favorite hobby of hers. Dorothy and her sister Nell loved to ride horses with their friends in Ohio in younger years and had a favorite toy collie. She is survived by all her children, grandchildren and great- grandchildren. Mom loved the Lord and reading of the Bible. She became ill and frail at a very early age, after her last child, but her character and constant smile have been a continual inspiration to many, even the nurses and caregivers in the hospital settings. Draper Mortuary, Ontario, CA (909-986-1131) is in charge of arrangements and her viewing will take place there on Sept. 28, 2010. Dorothy's funeral service will take place on Sept. 29, 2010 at Crosslight Family Ministries, 9720 Wilson Ave., Alta Loma, CA 91737 (909) 980-6939. She will be buried long side of her husband, Leon J. Sgantas, at Riverside National Cemetery, Riverside, CA (951) 653-8417. WE LOVE YOU MOM; REST IN PEACE WITH THE LORD.