Dorothy Ann "Dee" (O'Neill) Bodden

WINDSOR - Dee Bodden (nee O'Neill) passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on Aug. 9, 2013. She was 89. Dee Bodden was born in Dayton, Ohio on April 25.1924, and grew up in South Bend, Ind., the youngest of six children born to James O'Neill and Emma O'Neill (nee Born). Following her mother's untimely death from Lou Gehrig's disease, Dee was lovingly raised by her father and step-mother, Margaret O'Neill (nee Brownsdorf).

She met her husband, William Bodden, who was attending Notre Dame University, just down the street from her family's home on Notre Dame Avenue. They were married on Oct. 28, 1944, later moving to Wisconsin, where Bill pursued a career in education. Starting a family in the 1950s, Dee was a devoted mother and homemaker, but as her children grew she took up work in the 1970s as a Nurse's Aide at Divine Savior Nursing Home in Portage, Wis., then worked at the AMPI cheese plant for a number of years before retiring in the late 1980s. We remember her with great love and humility as a mother who always deeply supported, encouraged, and nurtured her three sons, and regaled us with wonderful, funny, and fascinating stories about her years growing up in depression-era South Bend as one of six siblings. She imbued us with a strong sense of human decency and kindness, and modeled for us how to be open and to listen to new ideas.

Dee loved listening and dancing to Dixieland music with Bill, making as many as 12 different kinds of Christmas cookies for the Holidays, playing cards, driving in the countryside spotting deer. listening to beautiful music, and many other things. She was ever ready for new experiences. We already miss her greatly. Mom, we know how lucky we are to have had you as our mom!

She is survived by her brother, Dick O'Neill of Harrisburg, Pa.; her sons, Tom, Mike, and Bill: their spouses, Amy Bodden, Tracy Lowe, and Tracy Benton; six grandchildren, Katherine Schultz. Marissa Wolfe, Sabrina Bodden, Amelia Bodden, Kiran Lowe, and India Lowe; and two great-grandchildren. Nicole and Natallie Alicea.

A funeral service will be at RYAN FUNERAL HOME. 6924 Lake Road. Deforest on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2013, at 2:30 p.m. Visitation will be on Sunday at the funeral home from 1 p.m. until the time of service. A continued celebration of her life will follow immediately with a luncheon. To view and sign this guestbook, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com.

Ryan Funeral Home & Cremation Services Windsor/Deforest Chapel 6924 Lake Road (608) 846-4250

Sources: Ancestry.com and Newspapers.com

09/16/2024 EJS