Dorothy Jessick

On April 10, 2017, our beloved mother, Dorothy Mae Jessick, passed into the care of her heavenly Father. She was surrounded by her children and the loving team of caregivers at the Garden at Orchard Ridge.

Dorothy was born on August 29, 1921 in Grey Eagle, Minnesota the oldest of five children to William H. Call and Marie Barrett Call. Dorothy Moved with her family to Idaho settling in Coeur d’Alene when she was fifteen. Through the years she would tell her family that she was fascinated with and loved the tall pine trees as they journeyed into their new surroundings stating that “this was the most beautiful place on earth.”

She married John E. Jessick, her spouse of 64 years, on February 4, 1942 in Coeur d’Alene. After John returned from WWII, they resided in Hayden Lake on their acreage on the Rimrock where they raised their family of four children: Donna, Marian, James, and Barbara. She was a homemaker providing a warm and comfortable home for John and her children. She was at her happiest cooking, baking, sewing, and maintaining a large garden to provide the necessities for her family. She mentored 4-H children helping them develop cooking and sewing skills. She helped her children with their various 4-H fair projects. She always enjoyed their camping trips throughout the Northwest and would brag about her fishing skills.

In May of 1997 they moved from their property in Hayden to reside on Evergreen Drive in Coeur d’Alene. She enjoyed her new surroundings and still maintained a small garden and beautiful flower beds. She lost much of her vision over the following years to macular degeneration but always maintained a positive attitude about life. She was such a great example of courage and strength to her children and grandchildren. She loved her great grandchildren and she asked them to call her GG. For the past seven years she was a resident at the Garden at Orchard Ridge.

She was preceded in death by her spouse, John in 2006; brother Russell Call, sisters, Lorraine Lovell and Elaine Hochrein, and granddaughter Lori Jessick. She is survived by her sister Gladys Benson of Hayden; and by her daughters: Donna Atwood (David) of Hayden; Marian Ducote (Warren) of Coeur d’Alene; Barbara Gilliland (Gary) King of Prussia, PA; and son, James E Jessick (Linda) of Lawrence, MI; grandchildren: Debbie Buck (Bruce), David M. Atwood (Jane), Karin Ducote (Lisa), Darren Ducote, Katherine Partridge (Brian), Kimberly Singleton (Tim), Jacqueline Gilliland, Melissa Jessick, Michael Roman (Amanda), and David Jessick; and by seven great grandchildren.

English Funeral Chapel of Coeur d’Alene has been entrusted with the arrangements. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Pius Church at 4PM on April 20. The family would like to thank the staff and loving caregivers at The Garden at Orchard Ridge for their wonderful care of our mother over the past seven years and Hospice of North Idaho caregivers who helped us during these past weeks. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Garden at Orchard Ridge, a non-profit Christian community at 624 W. Harrison Ave., Coeur d’Alene, Idaho 83814.