Dolores Kathryn Dorigan Rose

Dee Rose passed away in her home from complications of congestive heart failure brought on by chemo used to treat breast cancer 15 years ago. Recitation of the rosary will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, May 7, 2016 at Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 6739 S. Boulder Road, Boulder, CO, followed by A Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 A.M.. Burial will follow the Mass in the church cemetery, following the burial a reception will be held at the church. Dolores was born to John and Agnes (nee Bridget) Dorigan on September 30, 1926, to Irish immigrants who came to America separately in the very early 1900's and later married. Dolores was the youngest of 3 children. She attended St. Patrick Grade School, Mercy High School and graduated from Wilson Junior College with an Associate's degree in Library Science. Dee worked at the South Chicago Woodlawn & Blackstone Libraries as a children's librarian, a job she loved doing. Dolores met Dean Rose, a handsome flight engineer for United Airlines, at a dance at the famous Chicago Trianon Ballroom and later married on April 4, 1953. Soon after, they moved to Denver, Colorado and then Boulder, where they bought 4 acres & Dean began to build the house that would become home for their growing family. Dee was the proficient Domestic Engineer of Rose's Rancho and the wonderful mother of four girls and one boy, and later provided a lot of loving childcare for her grandkids. Dolores was a member of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parrish for 30 years and Sacred Heart of Mary Parrish for the last 30 years. She was a member of the Daughters of Isabella, the National Catholic Society of Foresters, and the Altar and Rosary Society. Our mom loved to entertain her friends as well as the friends of her children and had the gift of gracious hospitality. She was an incredible cook and always arranged her own flowers for the table. She had a natural green thumb, partly because of the influence of her parents who owned a flower shop in Chicago. As a marvelous gardener, she made sure there were flowers on the church altars, in the church gardens and in her outstanding flowerbeds around our home. Her favorite hobbies were her incredible stained glass creations, making porcelain dolls, painting with watercolors, and drawing. Dee also took art classes and learned to speak Japanese. Our mom was very proud of her Irish Heritage, and even spoke a little Gaelic. Dee's love language was to be a gift giver and always had something on hand to wrap quickly to give someone who may have joined us for her favorite holidays of Christmas, Easter and St. Patrick's Day. She delivered to shut-ins for Meals on Wheels & enjoyed their meal service herself, in the last few years. While volunteering at the Sister Carmen Community Center in Lafayette, she came across an Easter Bunny Costume that she purchased. Each Easter thereafter, the bunny delivered candy filled eggs to her kids, grand kids, and all kinds of kids, as well as to children after church at Sacred Heart of Mary, and to the older kids at nursing homes. Dee said that everyone has a story and she had a gift of finding out the life story of anyone she came in contact with, from the wonderful people who came to help her each week while she was in TRU Community Palliative and Hospice care, to Kaiser Permanente where she became the favorite of caring nurses and doctors, pharmacists and assistants. When anyone asked how she was, her response was an optimistic "Nearly perfect!" She was most proud of her very favorite people, her family, who are left with her legacy of love and wonderful memories. Dolores is survived by her brother, John Arthur Dorigan married to her lifelong friend, Mary Dolores (DeeDee) Dorigan and many beloved nieces and nephews on both sides of the family. 5 children; Sheila M. Albertson (Ken) of Lafayette, CO, Mary D. Vidallo of Lafayette, CO, David D. Rose of Boulder, CO, Patricia A. Stern (Todd) of Berthoud, CO, Maureen A. Rose (Jeff Goetz) of Boulder, CO, five grandchildren; Jonathan D. Rose (Cyndi) of Fitchburg, MA, Shayne M. Albertson of Lafayette, CO Dean T. Vidallo of Lafayette, CO, Bridget B. Goetz of Boulder, CO Liam C. Goetz of Boulder, CO, Two great grandchildren; Keegan D. Rose of Fitchburg, MA, Taelyn M. Rose of Fitchburg, MA. Dolores was preceded in death by her parents John & Agnes nee Bridget Dorigan, sister Ann (Ray) Polfus, her beloved husband Iral Dean Rose, two baby daughters Mary Ann Rose and Mary Sue Rose. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Real Choices Pregnancy Care Center, 1285 Centaur Village Drive, Lafayette CO 80026 and Children's Hospital Colorado Anschutz Medical,13123 East 16th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80045.