Dorothy A. De Sotto

At 96 years young, she left us with a heart full of memories, a life rich in love, and a legacy of compassion, joy, and laughter.

She was the loving mother of four daughters - Dianne, Lisa, Sally, and Kim and mother-in-law to Helen, Nick, Michael, and Randy. She was a cherished grandmother to Christopher, Debbie, Michael, Jimmy, and Christian, and a proud great-grandmother as well.

She was a devoted wife to her late husband, Francis and a loving mother to her late son, Mark. We take comfort in the thought of their joyous reunion, along with many dear friends and family and quite likely a crowd of beloved animals, at the gates of heaven.

Mom was truly a social butterfly. She lit up every family gathering, especially when homemade Italian food was involved, games were played, and love was shared. Her favorite game was Scrabble, and her “5 golden rings” solo in The 12 Days of Christmas became a treasured tradition that brought laughter and cheer to all.

Our home was a haven for creatures big and small - dogs, cats, hamsters, birds, ducks, even a skunk named Rosie! Thanks to her deep love and respect for animals. She taught us compassion not only through her words, but by the way she lived.

In her youth, she was a gifted artist, but when she lost her father at 17, she gave up her dream of art school to help support her family. That selfless strength defined her life. She later found her creative joy as an assistant nursery school teacher, where her legendary bulletin boards sparked delight in children and parents alike.

Her spirit was joyful, her heart was kind, and her legacy is one of love — love for her family, her friends, and all living things.

She will be deeply missed, but never forgotten.

May her soul be at peace.

May her memory be eternal.

May her spirit live on in all of us who were blessed to know and love her.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in her memory may be made to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 7023, Merrifield, VA 22116-7023, www.diabetes.org