Dorothy Lorraine Fontes

Dorothy Lorraine (Fredette) Fontes

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mother and Grammy, Dorothy Lorraine Fontes, at age 93. Dorothy was born in Eagleville, Connecticut, to Alfred Edward Fredette and Rosaline Delema Blanchard. She grew up with her two brothers, Alfred Mark and James Edward.

Dorothy was the proud mother of eight children: Harriet (Bob), Rosey (Darrel), Linda, Barbara, Steve, Billy (Kim), Patricia (Ray), and Wendy (Buster). She was blessed with many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and a great-great-grandchild who brought her great joy throughout her long life.

Over the years, Dorothy called many places home, finally landing in Oklahoma for the past 20+ years. No matter where she lived, she filled her home with the smell of something sweet in the oven. She was an exceptional baker, known for her cheesecakes, cookies, and puff pastries, all made with the kind of love you could taste. She was also a talented artist who saw beauty in the world around her, especially in animals, with whom she never hesitated to strike up a conversation.

Dorothy loved music from the 1950s and gospel hymns, with a special fondness for Patsy Cline and Johnny Cash. She had a sharp sense of humor, a contagious laugh, and mornings when she’d simply wake up cheerful, just happy to be here. A survivor in every sense, she worked more than 60 hours a week in restaurant management to provide for her family, and she did so with grace, grit, and an unshakable spirit.

Her family will forever remember her birthday tradition of surprising, loved ones with a dab of butter on the nose…a playful reminder to always seek out laughter. Dorothy spent her final years in Choctaw, cared for with love by her daughter Patricia, who preceded her in death earlier this year. In these last months and years, crucial support was also provided by her other children--Wendy, Steve, Barbara (and her friend, Kim), and Linda.

After 93 years of laughter, music, and hard work Dorothy leaves behind a legacy of love and resilience. Her family imagines she’s now in a place filled with old friends, good music, and every animal she ever talked to, happy as ever.