Dorothy Jean Ellis

With sadness, yet a sense of gratitude that she did not suffer from eventual worsening medical conditions, we announce the peaceful passing of Dorothy Ellis on July 27, 2026, at her home. Dorothy was born on March 9, 1938 in Yatesboro, Pennsylvania to Susanna (“Susan”) and John Kollar. She was the second youngest of 11 children, having seven brothers and three sisters. Her journey on this earth was one filled with love, laughter, and a deep commitment to family, friends, and her Catholic faith. Dorothy's life was a testament to hard work and dedication. She graduated in 1956 from St. Francis de Sales High School in Detroit, where she honed her secretarial and business skills. Her teachers remarked on her report cards that she was sweet, dependable, diligent, and responsible. Dorothy was a consistent A/B student, but did have a notable C in Religion class during her Senior year (gasp!). Shortly after graduation, she embarked on a fulfilling career at Prudential Insurance Company, serving as a secretary and advancing through the years to an executive secretarial position. It was there that she met the love of her life, David, in 1965, when he interviewed for a sales job shortly after moving to Michigan from Wales. Despite an initial aversion to his full beard and colorful socks, and two years of rejecting him when he repeatedly asked her out for dates, David's persistence (and dejected face when she turned him down yet again) won her heart, and they were married in October 1969 after dating for just over a year. Their union, spanning over 56 years, was a solid partnership marked by love, mutual respect, AND semi-frequent criticism of David's untidiness. Dorothy's career at Prudential lasted until 1971, after which she chose to dedicate herself to her family, becoming a stay-at-home mom and nurturing not only her own children, but also those of a few family friends and neighbors as their childcare provider. She returned to the workforce outside the home in 1986 as an administrative assistant temping in various Kelly Services placements, where she worked until her retirement at age 60. A woman of varied interests, Dorothy found joy in her flower gardens, delighting in the birds and wildlife that frequented her backyard, which was recognized as a Certified Wildlife Habitat® by the National Wildlife Federation a few years ago. She was an active member of St. Anastasia Catholic Church in Troy before joining St. John Vianney in Shelby Township. A lover of the Christmas season, Dorothy's home from November through January was always filled with warmth, laughter, tons of decorations, and the scent of her delicious holiday baking and cooking. She truly enjoyed celebrating all of the holidays due to the time spent with family and friends, and decorating, cooking, and baking to make a festive atmosphere. Dorothy’s passions were many, including traveling, reading, crafting, and keeping up with her loved ones with notes, cards, letters, phone calls, and social media. Dorothy maintained an enduring friendship with a group of women she met when in first grade back in Yatesboro over 80 years ago! She also enjoyed watching True Crime murder shows, completing jigsaw puzzles, and playing board games and cards, particularly Racko, Uno, and Pinochle. David and Dorothy started a Pinochle group with friends which lasted for over 25 years. Her sweet personality made everyone feel welcome, and her love for her family was boundless. She cherished every moment spent with her grandchildren, who were the light of her life. She made them and their school and extra-curricular activities a priority to attend and participated with any and all fundraisers for their various groups and interests. Dorothy was predeceased by her parents and many of her siblings and their spouses, including Helen and "Red," John and Mary, George and Dorothy, Ed and Maxine, Tom and Lucy, Betty and Ed, Kim, Pat, Ron, Larry, and Bob. She is survived by her beloved husband David; her dear children and their spouses: Paul (Terri), Chris (Stephanie), and Sian (John); her cherished grandchildren: Jack, Nate, Bronwyn, Davis, Abby, Rhiannon, and Brynn; her close-knit siblings Don, Jim, and Rosie; her sister-in-law and friend, Pat; and too many nieces and nephews to count. Dorothy kept track of them all though, including hand-writing all of their birthdays and anniversaries in her calendar, which she filled out from memory every year. A memorial visitation to reminisce about Dorothy's life will be held on Thursday, August 6, 2026 from 3 to 8 p.m. with a 7 p.m. Rosary at Wujek - Calcaterra & Sons, Inc. (54880 Van Dyke, Shelby Township, MI). A memorial mass will take place on Friday, August 7, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at St. John Vianney Church (54045 Schoenherr Road, Shelby Township, MI) with the In-State Gathering beginning at 10:30 a.m. A luncheon will take place after the funeral service. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (www.stjude.org/donate) in honor of Dorothy's generous spirit and love for children. Dorothy Ellis's legacy is one of love, kindness, and a life well-lived. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her, but her spirit will live on in the hearts of her family and friends. Please share memories with the family at their online guestbook at WujekCalcaterra.com

Dorothy Jean Ellis

March 9, 1938 - July 27, 2026