Dorothy Moss Espenschied

Dorothy Moss Espenschied 
May 9, 1925 - April 10, 2024
Daughter of Chilton Dodson Moss (Sarge) and Alice Dyer Moss. She was a loving and devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend. She was born in St. Louis then moved to Belleville, Signal Hill in the 3rd grade. She graduated from Belleville Township High School in 1943. As a member of the Greatest Generation, she was very active with the USO and was an avid jitterbug dancer. After finishing high school, during World War II, she worked for Army Map Service.  After the war, she continued as a map maker at the U.S. Geological Survey, where she met her future husband, Harvey.  She spent the next phase of her life focusing on raising her four children in the Florissant area.  When a medical emergency struck her youngest child, she became devoted to leading a community effort to bring a hospital to North St. Louis County, resulting in the building of Christian Hospital Northwest.  She was key in establishing the volunteer program for the hospital.  Her involvement began with volunteering and transitioned to full-time positions recruiting and leading volunteers.  Christian Hospital’s leadership saw the need/opportunity for a retirement home and skilled-nursing facility in North County, so they turned to Dorothy to lead the project to design and build Village North.  Following construction, she became the administrator of Village North until retirement.  After her 1990 retirement, she became a member of the DAR and PEO organizations.

She was quick to join organizations aligned with her interests and passions, often rising to leadership positions.  She was always ready to fully engage and take charge, whether it was organizing a state-wide group of executives or lining up players for a Bridge tournament.  Her enthusiasm was always front and center.  In business and life, her guiding principles were, to always treat others as you would be treated, strive to make every negotiation end with everyone feeling as though they’ve won, never intentionally embarrass anyone, and “Soldier On”!

Throughout her busy career and activities outside the home, her family knew they were her top priority, and she was there to love and support them - unconditionally.

Among her many interests were traveling the world, playing Bridge, reading, and spending time with family.

Dorothy is survived by her children Harvey Jr. “Timmy” (Susan), Ellen (Bruce) Hull, Andy (Pam), her grandchildren Robert (Christy), Carrie, Nicole (Sam) Roberts, Alicia (Ben) Eisman, Denise, and Stephanie, as well as five great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her daughter Janet Sherman and her dear sister W. Jane Kasukonis, of Fort Worth, TX.

Services:  Reception at the FAMILY CENTER at SCHRADER Funeral Home, Monday (4/15/2024) from 4-7pm.  In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to her favorite PEO project - Cottey College (https://cottey.edu/give/), in memory of Dorothy.  Friends may sign the family’s on-line guestbook at Schrader.com.

Career:
-    Charter member of the Women's Auxiliary for Christian Hospital Northwest
-    Auxiliary President in 1970
-    Director of Volunteers 1971-79
-    Project Director for the construction of Village North Retirement Center and Nursing Home
-    Vice President and COO of Village North.

Leadership:
-    Member of the Christian Hospital Executive Board
-    Program Chairman for the St. Louis Council of Directors for Volunteer Services
-    Region I Director of the Missouri Organization for Volunteer Effectiveness
-    President of the Missouri Association of Volunteer Service Administrators
-    President of Missouri Chapter DQ of PEO, International

Clubs/Organizations:
-    Soroptimist
-    Toastmasters
-    Daughters of the American Revolution
-    PEO, International

Awards/Honors:
-    Business and Professional Women of Florissant: Woman of Achievement
-    Missouri House of Representatives: Resolution - March 17, 1983
-    Declarations of Recognition by the Missouri Lieutenant Governor and the Village North Board of Directors