Dorothy Frances Gerace, 84, died on Saturday night, Oct 7, 2006, at the Rochelle Health Care nursing home, from complications due to Alzheimer's disease and minor strokes. Dorothy was born in Chicago on January 12, 1922, to Carl and Frances Anderson and was married to Thomas Gerace, of LaSalle, Illinois, on February 7, 1953. Dorothy and Tom moved to Rochelle in 1962 where all of their children graduated from Rochelle Township High School. Dorothy was renowned locally for her 40 years as a top Avon sales representative in the Rochelle, an artistic quilter, and tens of thousands of hours of community service extending over more than four decades. Her tireless community service included roles in Campfire Girls, the Food Pantry, St. Patrick's church, and many other organizations. Dorothy, along with Sister Judy Herman, co-founded Minister of Care, which continues to bring comfort to hundreds of local area residents. She also spent thousands of hours creating beautiful handmade quilts that she donated for auctions to raise funds for numerous organizations and benefits. Dorothy Gerace's legacy will continue to serve her family and the local community for many years. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband: Thomas Gerace on June 5, 1987 and a grandson Nathan Smith on May 11, 1988.

She is survived by her:
2 sons: Gerald (Veronica) Gerace of San Diego, CA
Dan (Linda) Gerace of DeKalb, IL
3 daughters: Fran (Dan) O'Rorke of Oregon, IL
Mary (Brian) Smith of Monroe Center, IL
Connie (Gerald) Strohman of Lindenwood, IL
brother: Carl Anderson of Albuquerque, NM
2 sisters: Mildred "Mickey" (George) Woelful of Rockford, IL
Rosemary Wisniewski of Tuson, AZ
14 grandchildren: Alexandria, Dominic, Morgan, Madison, Tiffany, Samantha, Brett, Kelli, Jeremiah, Jeffery, Stephanie, Philip, Logan and Joshua.
2 great grandchildren: Maddison, Colton

Funeral Mass will be held at 10 AM on Thursday, October 12, 2006 at the St. Patrick Catholic Church with the Rev. David A. Peck officiating.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 5 - 8 PM with a Christian Wake Service at 8 PM at the Unger Horner Funeral Home, 400 N 6th St., Rochelle, IL 61068.

Burial will be held at the St. Patrick Catholic Cemetery in Rochelle, IL.

Memorials may be made to the Ogle County Hospice Association or to the St. Patrick Catholic Church.