Dorothy Holmbo (1935-2022): many of her recipes can never be duplicated
Family and friends celebrated her life on Saturday.
Dorothy Eileen (Wellman) Johnston Holmbo, 86, of Roscoe was a proud member of the VFW Women's Auxiliary, serving as a Junior President, Auxiliary Guard and traveling to Washington D.C. to lay flowers on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. She worked many years at National Lock and First National Bank in Rockford. She was very proud of her CNA certification from Rock Valley College, and she used her degree as a home health care employee at Swedish American Hospital where she retired.
Dorothy went to her heavenly home on Thursday, July 14, 2022, with her children surrounding her with so much love in the days leading up to her final journey. She took her time getting there, for she truly never was ready to leave her family.
Dorothy’s favorite hobby was her family. Her humor will live on as her family shares the many stories and her quick-witted responses to those she loved so dearly. When she cooked from scratch, many of her recipes will never be duplicated. She was always sampling her amazing food, or perhaps sneaking a bite off of other’s plates.
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Her family says, "Always our Mom, forever our best friend!" and wishes to thank Heartland Hospice/ProMedica for their care and support during this difficult time.
Born on November 1, 1935, in Walnut, Illinois, the daughter of Arthur David and Golda Mae Wellman, Dorothy graduated from East High School in 1953. She married Charles Leonard Johnston on December 24, 1954. From that marriage were Kathleen (Jeff) Fox, Mike (Teri) Johnston, Patty (Matt) Austin, and Kelly Johnston. Her late husband Thomas Holmbo's children are Joe (Debi) Holmbo, Michael (Antonette) Holmbo, and Katrina (Jeff) Meils.
Dorothy was an amazing grandmother and will truly be missed by Michael (Brent) Johnston-Farrar, Andrea (Ryan) Yager, Katie Beth (Jake) Ramsbottom, Megan (Mike) O'Donnell, Luke (Emily) Austin, Ben Austin (fiancé, Carly Malacina), Zack Fox, Niki (Phil) Stosur, Alli Fox, Caitlyn Conner, Brock (Mandi) Conner, Jeremy, Autumn, Winter and Michelle; great-grandchildren who loved their Gigi dearly: Henry, Garrett, Gavin, Eleanor, Jackson, Isaac, William, Ireland, Duke, Dane, Tyler, Arianna and numerous others.
Additional survivors include her very special aunt, Marcella Miller; sister-in-law, Barb Wellman; her Indiana family; numerous nieces and nephews who she shared many memories with; and her loving caregiver sent straight from heaven, who loved her dearly, Mila Bubela. She was preceded in death by her siblings Arthur Wellman, Leo Wellman, Shirley Suits, and Gerald Wellman, as well as her first husband, Charles Leonard Johnston, her second husband, Thomas Patrick Holmbo, and her parents.
Family and friends celebrated her life on Saturday, July 16, 2022, at Delehanty Funeral Home in Loves Park, with burial at Sunset Memorial Gardens.
