Date of Birth
Jun 11,1926
Date of Death
Oct 26,2007
NAME Dorothy Helene Knight, age 81, of Virgil, passed away at her home, surrounded by the love of her family and into the arms of her savior, Friday, October 26, 2007. Called home on her mother’s birthday and parents wedding anniversary, the celebration from her homecoming could be heard Heaven-wide. BORN: She was born on June 11, 1926, the daughter of William and Gertrude (Sage) Werner in Jersey City, NJ and attended local schools. EDUCATION: Dorothy graduated with the class of 1943 from Dickinson High School. MARRIAGE She was united in marriage to Robert Knight on April 30, 1945 in Jersey City, NJ. Most of their life was spent in the Chicago suburbs until they moved to Kaneville where they owned the Elburn Laundromat. Over the years Robert’s employment, which was based mostly in sales, helped the family travel across the country making memories mile by mile until his passing on July 5, 1979. Dorothy and her growing family settled back in Kaneville for a time before moving to Sandwich to live with her daughter Becky. Independence then called her to move out and live in Elburn in 1989. In February of 2005 declining health brought her into the home and care of her daughter Connie and her family in Virgil along with frequent visits to her daughter Melinda and Joe Ratliff in Burlington. MEMBERSHIPS She was a faithful member of Kaneville United Methodist Church for many years. LIFE NOTES Dorothy always seemed to be busy. If she wasn’t making her house a home or raising her children, she loved to spend time in her garden and then later can the bountiful harvest. When at last she sat down, Dorothy kept her hands busy and was amazing with a set of needles. Dorothy quilted, knitted and sewed and made a name for herself as a master seamstress who could whip out drapes, aprons, and reupholster chairs in a blink of an eye. In the early years the family enjoyed vacations to the Jersey Shore where many camping memories were made. In later years she worked for the VNA of Aurora and after she received her realtor’s license, she worked for Leuer Realty in Elburn for a time. SURVIVORS She now leaves her children:Melinda (Joe) Ratliff of Burlington, IL, Becky (Scott) Surra of Ronks, PA, and Constance (Tim) Hylland of Virgil, IL;Her grandchildren:Joe (Julie) Ratliff of Genoa, Ben (Tosha) Ratliff of Sycamore, Tiffany (Bryan) Pitstick of Sycamore, Roberta Surra (Steve Shenk) of Lancaster, PA,Alex Surra of Ronks, PA, andJoshua, Justin and Elizabeth Hylland of Virgil, IL;Her great-grandchildren:Jayna, Anna, Joe III, Morgan, Hunter, Fisher, Thomas, Nicole, and Vincent;One sister, Gertrude (Russel) Shipman of North Myrtle Beach, SC;Several nieces, nephews, and a family of friends. PRECEDED She now joins her parents, husband Robert, and three siblings, Ruth, Lois and Bill.VISITATION / FUNERAL Friends may call from 10-11:30 a.m. with a memorial service to celebrate her life will held at 12 p.m. at the Kaneville United Methodist Church, Kaneville, on Tuesday, October 30, 2007. Rev. Jason Turner, pastor of the church, will officiate. MEMORIAL In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in her name to benefit the Kaneville United Methodist Church. Checks may be made to the "Dorothy Knight Memorial" and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, IL 60119. Tributes and memories may also be forwarded to the family at the same address or through www.conleycare.com.
A memorial visitation will be held Tuesday October 30, 2007 from 10-11:30, a service to celebrate her live will be held at 12:00. The Rev. Jason Turner will officiate. Private family interment will follow at a later date.
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