Dolores M. Morris

Dolores M. "Tiny" Morris, age 87, of Maple Park, passed away Saturday, February 11, 2006, at her home. The loving hands of her family and caregivers released her into the waiting arms of her heavenly Father. She was born September 29, 1918, near Streator, IL, the third of eight children born to Charles and Ella (Shawback) Schroeder. She grew up on a farm near Leonore, IL, where she attended a local school. After finishing the 8th grade, Dolores moved to Aurora, where she worked as a nanny and later as a beautician. As the years passed, her other brothers and sisters found their way to Aurora to live with Dolores before they were married or began careers of their own.During WW II, Dolores worked as a welder at All Steel in Aurora. In the late 1940’s, she met Donald Morris. Don and Dolores were united in marriage on January 7, 1950. Don built their first home and they lived in Aurora until 1955, when they moved to rural Elburn. Dolores was truly an old fashioned farm wife, mother and homemaker. She managed the livestock, raised the kids, the garden and did the canning! She was the world’s best pie maker and a wonderful baker. Her life was centered around her children and she had an uncanny way of always knowing where they were and what they were doing. She was always calm and never needed to raise her voice; she just had a way of making the kids feel "appropriately" guilty. She was a good listener and her home was where all of her children’s friends like to "hang out". Her career was being a mom and she was fantastic at it!Don passed away on Thanksgiving Day, 1985. Dolores continued on alone drawing on those same strengths that had seen her through the years of raising her family. In 1980, she suffered a stroke which left her with expressive aphasia. She understood everything and remembered everything, but could not express it in the usual way. Those limitations did not keep her from running her household and managing her life. In 2004, she was diagnosed with lung caner and again she amazed those around her. In so many ways, so many times, Dolores simply persevered to beat the odds against her and simply overcame; without fanfare but always with great humor.Dolores was a member of the Community Congregational Church, Elburn.She is survived by her three children: Charles (Jean) Morris of Montgomery, IL, Kay (Dana) Titus of Maple Park, IL and James (Karen) Morris of Doha, Quatar; 5 grandchildren: Kimberly Morris of Kansas City, MO, Katie (Thomas) Carvell of Clarksville, TN, Donald Morris of Baton Rouge, LA, Tara Titus of Denver, CO and Tony Titus of Maple Park, IL; 2 great-grandchildren, Jennifer and Ryan Carvell; 3 siblings: Lois (Darrell) Chambers of Peru, IL, Lila (Richard) Fetzer of Aurora, IL, and Elaine Barr of Peru, IL; 3 sisters-in-law, Charlotte Miller of Hinckley, IL, Gladys Liltz of Elk Grove Village, IL and Norma Schroeder of Hemet, CA; 1 brother-in-law, Jerry Fauth of Edgerton, WI and three very special friends and caregivers: Linda Klingbeil, Ronnie Pancoast and Melody Needham.She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Donald; three sisters: Arlene Rose, Roseanne Fauth and Bernice Schroeder; 1 brother, Keith Schroeder; 2 sisters-in-law, Elizabeth Grover and Clara Morris and 6 brothers-in-law, Floyd and Ernie Morris, Carl Barr, Ira Grover, Harold Rose and Francis Miller.A memorial has been established in her name. Checks may be made to the Dolores M. Morris Memorial and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, IL 60119. Memories and tributes may be mailed to the same address or forwarded to the family through her obituary at www.conleycare.com.

Visitation will be held at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL, on Wednesday, February 15, 2006, from 3-9pm. Her funeral service will be held at 10:30am on Thursday, February 16, 2006, at the funeral home. The Rev. Suzanne Barr, Dolores’ niece, from Lostant, IL, will officiate.

Interment will follow at Blackberry Cemetery.