CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF DOROTHY ELLEN CAREY

Dorothy (Dottie) Ellen Carey was born on March 28, 1957 in Lynwood, California. She was the fifth child born to John Peter and Dorothy Pearce Carey. She lived in Compton until 1969 and attended Our Lady of Victory Catholic School. The family then moved to Paramount for one year where Dottie attended Our Lady of Rosary Catholic School until graduating from eighth grade in 1971. At Rosary, Dottie excelled in volleyball, basketball, and softball, and was the lead in the eighth-grade school play, The Mikado .

The family moved to Cerritos in 1970. Dottie attended Pius X High School in Downey from 1971-1973, and then transferred to Cerritos High School where she continued to excel in sports. She was chosen as the most valuable athlete when she graduated in 1975. Dottie attended Cerritos College and Long Beach State University, and had a career in the carpet industry for many years.

Dottie was able to travel the world because her dad was employed with Trans World Airlines. She loved exploring new cities and seeing the sights in all parts of the globe. She traveled extensively throughout Europe, and also through Australia, New Zealand, and Hong Kong. She had many stories about her travels. She also loved to take trips back to New Castle, Pennsylvania where her parents were from, and so many close relatives still reside.

Dottie was the mother to Jessica (Schoen) Marsalek and Daniel Letcher. Her children were the loves of her life. She is the mother-in-law to Lucas Marsalek and the grandmother to Jacob (JP), Eliana (Ellie), and Everett. Her grandchildren brought her great joy and sunshine.

Dottie loved to shop and often bought gifts for others. We called her the “Queen of Wrap” because she enjoyed giving many small wrapped gifts to each recipient and watch them being opened one at a time. She especially loved to buy gifts for her grandchildren.

Dottie was also lovingly called the “Energizer Bunny” by the family because of her ability to keep on going, despite her many health issues. She was a fighter. Dottie had a good sense of humor, quick wit, and could always make you laugh. She was also a fierce competitor and enjoyed playing card games, even if they had “No Name.” Dottie was very fond of roses and liked to create flower arrangements to give to others. It was also well known that her favorite foods were well done steak and pot roast with mashed potatoes, and for dessert, banana crème pie, blueberry muffins, and 3 Musketeers candy bars.

Dottie leaves behind her daughter, Jessica, son-in-law, Lucas, her grandchildren JP, Ellie, and Everett; her son, Daniel, and his significant other, Javier “Javi” Rodriguez.

Dottie also leaves behind her sisters, Kathryn Carey Stone, Sheila Carey Ricioli, Sharleen Carey Grimm, Rebecca Carey Kieran, Cynthia Carey Fixa, and Jacqueline Carey-Wilson, and brother, John Timothy Carey and sister-in-law, Vicki Carey, and her brothers-in-law, Robert Ricioli, Thomas Kieran, Charles Fixa, and Douglas Wilson; her aunts, Mary Hogue,Virginia Hamilton, Gloria Pearce, and Marie Pearce; her uncles, Richard Pearce and Paul Carey; numerous Carey, Donegan, and Pearce cousins; 18 nieces and nephews; 14 great nieces and nephews; 2 great-great nieces and nephews; and her former spouses, Phillip Schoen and Dan Letcher. The family is so very grateful to Phillip for the love and unending care he gave to Dottie.

Memorial contributions may be made to the non-profit, “To Write Love on Her Arms.” https://twloha.com/