Dorothy M. DeWitte

Dorothy M. DeWitte of St. Charles A funeral Mass for Dorothy M. DeWitte, 76, will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, at St. Patrick Church, 408 Cedar St., St. Charles, with Monsignor Joseph B. Linster, celebrant. Born Jan. 14, 1927, in Herrin, Ill., in the family home, where her father also was born in 1901, she died Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2003, at Rosewood Care Center in St. Charles. Burial will be in Union Cemetery, St. Charles. Dorothy was the only child of Clyde and Helen (nee Bell) Hunter and the only grandchild of her paternal grandparents, William T. and Ora (nee McCormick) Hunter. When she was eight years old, Dorothy and her parents moved to Manteno, where she graduated from the local schools. She then attended St. Mary Hospital School of Nursing in Kankakee and subsequently moved to St. Charles, where she worked as an office assistant for the late Donald E. Dick, M.D. In 1948, Dorothy and Alphonse D. DeWitte of St. Charles, were married at St. Patrick Catholic Church. Always one to enjoy a challenge, it was while she was at home raising her three sons that she became interested in writing and politics, two interests she pursued throughout an active life. She was for many years, an active member of St. Charles Township Republican Central Committee and secretary of the Kane County Republican Central Committee. In 1986, she was appointed as one of five members of the St. Charles Township Senior Services Committee during Walter Sava's tenure as township chairman. She was past president of St. Charles American Legion Auxiliary #342. She also served a term as president of the Hotel Baker Living Center, a senior citizen residence. Her interest in writing led to the publication of numerous children's stories and poetry in reading textbooks published by Science Research Associates, and articles and stories published in The Rotarian, Family Digest, Teen Magazine and Eucharist, a Catholic religious publication. When her three sons were old enough to attend school, Dorothy became a freelance news and feature writer for the Elgin Daily Courier, the Aurora Beacon and the St. Charles Chronicle. She later joined the staff at the St. Charles Chronicle as a reporter and columnist, reporting on local issues and events in her weekly column, "Dottie's Diggins." She eventually became news editor, managing editor and then associate editor. In 1971, she was accepted into Sigma Delta Chi, Professional Journalistic Society, Northern Illinois Chapter, by invitation. Dorothy later became Kane County Legislative Assistant to the late U.S. Congressman, Robert McClory (R-Lake Bluff), managing his offices in Elgin, and later, Carpentersville. When he resigned after 20 years in Washington, Dorothy became legislative assistant to Illinois State Senator Doris C. Karpiel (R-Carol Stream) for four years. In later years, she returned to freelance writing with the St. Charles Republican. Dorothy is survived by her sons, Alan (Gail) of Elburn, Donald (Diane) of St. Charles and John of Chicago; grandsons, Joseph (Chamberlin) of Maple Park, Patrick Hunter DeWitte and Michael James DeWitte of St. Charles; and maternal aunt, Lillian (Kenneth) Proffit of Herrin. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Alphonse, who before his death in 1995, was a 24-year member of the St. Charles City Council and a past commander of American Legion Post #342. Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday, at the Norris Funeral Home, 100 S. Third St., St. Charles, with a liturgical service at 7:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the St. Charles Public Library, 1 S. Sixth Ave., St. Charles, IL or Anderson Animal Shelter, 1000 S. LaFox, South Elgin, IL 60177. Dorothy's family would like to acknowledge Fox Valley Family Physicians, Delnor Community Hospital, Rosewood Care Center and Vitas Hospice for their care and compassion during the last months of Dorothy's life. Friends may visit www.dailyherald.com/obits to express condolences and sign the guest book. For funeral information, (630)584-2000or www.NorrisFH.com.