Dorothy Gould

1927 - 2017

Gould, Dorothy Hedin
Dorothy Hedin Gould, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother passed away in Peoria, Arizona, on April 26, 2017. She is survived by John, her husband of 58 years; her three children, Natalie, Clifford (Mary), and Andrew (Connie); and five grandchildren (George, Anna, Christian, Caleb and Gabrielle). Dorothy was born on September 9, 1927 in Bridgeport, CT to Clifford and Mary Hedin. Dorothy's grandparents, Alexander and Anna Hedin, were very deeply involved in raising her. Dorothy was a devout Christian all of her life. As a young woman, she was a member of the Swedish Methodist Episcopal Church in Bridgeport, CT. One of her fondest memories was singing hymns with her grandmother Anna. Dorothy was responsible for leading her family to the Lord; the entire family was baptized at the First Baptist Church in Tampa, FL, as Dorothy stood with them in the baptismal singing, "I Know That My Redeemer Liveth." She read her Bible and prayed unceasingly every day of her life. At the age of 14, Dorothy was offered a scholarship to Juilliard to study voice, but for personal reasons, was unable to attend. She was later awarded a music scholarship at Northwestern University, and also studied voice with Estelle Liebling, a nationally-renowned vocal teacher in New York. Dorothy sang professionally in churches and opera companies throughout the New York/Connecticut area, as well as in Tampa, FL. Her performances included the lead soprano in The Messiah, and as The Queen of the Night in Mozart's "The Magic Flute." When she was not singing, Dorothy was working to support herself and her family as a legal secretary. She told many stories about the stars she met while she was working in the legal department at MCA in New York. Dorothy's years 35 years as a legal secretary inspired her son Andrew to pursue a career in law; he was sworn in as a Justice on the Arizona Supreme Court in January 2017. At the age of 64, Dorothy enrolled at the University of Montana. Six years later, at the age of 70, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English. At the time, she was the University's oldest graduate. Following graduation, Dorothy wrote several essays and children's stories. Three months after they met, John and Dorothy were married on Thanksgiving Day, 1958. Rarely have a husband and wife been more loving; they were inseparable. Their marriage was living proof that love "always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres; love never fails." Ultimately, for Dorothy, her family came first. It was her greatest love; she selflessly sacrificed everything for them. Through many difficult times, she was an enduring source of encouragement and comfort for her husband and children. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, May 6, 2017 at 11:00, at Sun City West Christian Church, located at 20803 N. 151st Ave., Sun City West, AZ, 85375. Please join Dorothy's family in sharing memories, pictures, or videos on her tribute wall at: www.caminodelsol.com