"Bear with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgive each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive." – Colossians 3:13

Be curious, not judgmental  - Walt Whitman

Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope. - Maya Angelou American poet

From Richard Spurney:

I had the good fortune to meet Dorie on a blind date during her graduation commencement from Bowling Green University.  It was love at first sight and after the weekend activities I drove her home.  When I arrived at my home, I told my Mom that I just met the girl I'm going to marry.

After a two-year engagement, we were married at the First Hungarian Lutheran Church in Cleveland.  Dorie put her education to use quickly and began teaching at her high school Alma Mater, John Adams High.  After two years, she transferred to Maple Heights High School and taught business there until we started our family.

Susan was born on March 28 ^th coincidentally with me starting my company.  The year was quite hectic as there was involvement with my former company which went to the Supreme Court of the United States.  Dorie was my rock and stood by me for the five years of litigation until I was exonerated.

Two years after Susan was born, we completed our family when Lisa was born in April of 1972.  I can't put into words how wonderful our family life was to Dorie and me.  As far as I was concerned, Dorie was the best Mom that ever lived, and I was the luckiest guy for having met and marrying her.

I know that it's cliché to say that someone is a saint, but Dorie qualified on all points.  She is the finest human being that I ever met, and, in my life, I've met a great many wonderful people.

As I write this, my tears are flowing as I remember our life together.  Fifty-six years of wonderful memories are running through my head and I'd need a book to put them all down on paper.  My memories, and her picture which is sitting on my desk, and all the scrapbooks which she accumulated, and all the videos of our fifty-six years together which she converted to DVD's are all I have left of this irreplaceable lady.

If there is a heaven, that's where she is today.  My only hope is that I lead a life good enough to be with her again someday…..

From Lisa Chapple:

My mom was the kindest, most unconditionally loving person I ever met.  I was a troublesome child growing up; especially during my teenage and early adult years and despite all the stress, and issues I presented, she loved me fiercely through all of it and just wanted me to be happy.  She really just wanted me to find happiness, peace and security in my life – whatever that was for me.

She was the gentle, strong rock of our family.  She kept us all united during those times years ago we were disunified.  She thrived on family and would do anything to keep us connected.  I used to get frustrated when she wanted to talk to me at least once a week when I was young, self-centered, and distant but those calls made all the difference because I knew she would move mountains to make sure I was ok.  I told her more than once how grateful I am that she never gave up on me.  This is largely why I am still here now living a successful, full life.

Her quiet, loving, strength and gentle personality impacted far more people than she ever knew.  Everyone that met her knew what an amazing, pure person she was all the way to the end.  The nurses loved her and enjoyed her gentle, loving nature and lifting sense of humor.  She wasn't sarcastic like me and my sister and dad but she could hold her own with us!!

She openly accepted Kurt's children into the family with no reservations.  She loved Jesse and AJ openly and knew I found happiness with Kurt when I finally introduced him before we got married.  She didn't judge his sordid history in marriage or that he has children.  She emotionally opened her arms to them and has loved Kurt ever since as well as all of his children: Jesse, AJ, Olivia and Sarah and welcomed the spouses too when Jesse and Jessica, Oliva and Jason and AJ and Stephanie got married.  She understood that though they were my stepchildren, they were our family: blood or not.

She believed in God all her life and raised my sister and I in a Lutheran Church as she was raised Lutheran.  She allowed us to make the decision when we were teenagers, whether to continue going with her or not.  She gave us the understanding of religion and through this experience, I found God later in life in my way because of her.

There are so many "because of mom" reasons I have this goodness and love in my heart for people and that I am still here.  I could not ask for a more beautiful, strong, loving woman to be my mom.

From Susan Smith:

My mother devoted her life to raising her children.  She didn't choose to work or have a career.  Her career was raising her kids.  Thus, my mom was always there when we got home from school or we needed to go to activities.

She was always the rock and the glue that held the family together, that stopped the fear and made the hurt go away.  Even as we got older, if we ever had a question or needed support, mom was always there.  She never asked for anything.

All she ever wanted was for her family to always be around her and be happy. When her granddaughter was born, my daughter Sarah, she was thrilled.  She loved her unconditionally.

I am so thankful that one of the very last pieces of news I gave my mom was that Sarah had been accepted to college.  Mom was so happy she was almost in tears.  I am grateful Mom knew this.  She loved all of us so much and we love her with all our hearts.

From Nancy Robusky:

Dorie, I love you.  You and I have been close through everything.  I am so grateful to have you as my sister.  I will love you always.