Dorothy J. Neely Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Dearborn Heights-Dorothy J. Wiltshire Neely, a long-time resident of Dearborn Heights, died at the age of 84 in her home on Monday, December 18, 2017. Born June 23, 1933 in Somerville, Massachusetts to parents Henry Charles Wiltshire and Katherine Elizabeth Cotter. Dorothy became a popular athlete (basketball & field hockey), cheerleader and class entertainer. She was involved in tap and ballroom dancing, horseback riding, girl scouts and the Audubon Society. She was also a lifesaving guard. She attended the Berklee School of Music in Boston Massachusetts. She wrote instrumental music. She won the Berklee School talent search becoming a member of the Three Feathers singing group which sang on a local radio show. She was featured in many newspaper articles. Her dream was to become a Broadway star. Dorothy, a night club singer, met her husband, jazz pianist, Gerald Neely at the Normandy Lounge in 1958. They soon got married and started a family. While raising a family, Dorothy was a business women who started her own greeting card company, Cards to be Treasured. She was well known for her prose and poetry. She enjoyed antiquing furniture, painting, writing poetry, gardening, bird watching and spending time with family. She was a devote Catholic with a deep faith in our Blessed Lord. She had a very special deep love and devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. She prayed the Rosary daily. Some of the miracles that she experienced through prayer were as follows. The conversion of her husband Gerald to Catholicism, quitting smoking cold turkey, the turning of her silver Rosary to gold and the total cure of her daughter Maria from stage 4 breast cancer to an "all clear". Dorothy is survived by her husband of 59 years, Gerald, her 7 children: Victor, Catherine (Michael), Candace (Randy), Shawn (Donna), Christopher (Paula), Matthew John (deceased), Maria (Clint) and Shane (Kim). Loving Nana of Nicholas, Matthew (April), Christina (Bob), Carrie, Heather (Johnathan), Amanda (Johnathon), Shawnie (Hayley), Alicia, Breanna, Jeffrey (Katrina), Joshua (Ashley), Jessica, Tiffany, Miranda, Jaylyn, Jazzmarie, Kaylee, Justin, Ashley (deceased) and Angel Devon (deceased). Great Nana to Harmony, Dominic, Ayden, Shayley, Ryder, Xavier, Isaac, Joni, Addi, Kolton, Landon, John and Kaiden and a great, great Nana to Terence Jr. Dear step-daughter to Dorothy Parker-Wiltshire and sister to Beverly, Mikey, Hank, Peter, Candy, Beth, Nancy (deceased) and Billy (deceased). In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Make-A-Wish Foundation. 7600 Grand River Avenue-Suite 175, Brighton, Michigan 48114. www.michiganwish.org

Dorothy J. Neely

June 23, 1933 - December 18, 2017