Dorothy Ulmen “Dot” (Hartson) Sisson passed away peacefully from natural causes on Wednesday, July 13, 2016 at her home in Santee, California. She was the third of the seven children of Clara Mae (Ulmen) Hartson and Gilbert Smith Hartson, was born in Mankato, MN. on August 7, 1912, and was faithfully married to Norbert Sisson of Beaumont CA. until his passing in 2000.
At the age of ten, her family traveled to San Diego, CA. One of seven children, she attended Wilson Jr. High and San Diego High School, graduated in 1930 and then went to work at S.H. Kress & Co. (one of the original five and dimes) in downtown San Diego for 5 years, at $12 a week, during the Great Depression. While at Kress's she met her beau, Norbert (Norrie) Sisson, whom she married in 1935. Since Kress's only employed single women, that was the end of her career in the candy department of S&H Kress & Co.
Dorothy was mother to four children; Barbara O’Neil, Lawrence Sisson, Gerald Sisson (Larry and Jerry, identical twins) and John Sisson.
Active in her church, she and her husband Norrie sang in the choirs of St. Patrick's, St. Rita’s and Blessed Sacrament Catholic Churches over the years. Dot was very fond of music and on piano played the standards of her day, and holiday songs at family functions. As volunteers she and Norrie delivered Meals-On-Wheels for 10 years, they were both members of the Buttons and Bows and other square dance clubs. Dot was also in the local Post Office Auxiliary, as Norrie had a long career with the Post Office. Celebrating holidays was very important to her and special days would frequently involve large family gatherings and pot luck dinners, which were famous for her much coveted, warm green bean salad, a recipe loved by many.
Dot, as she was known by the many who were closest to her, had a smile for everyone, a wry sense of humor and a sparkling wit which kept everyone smiling. She often would sign greeting cards “With love, a small Dot on the horizon”. Modesty and humility were two of her strong suits, but so were her clarity of and willingness to offer her thoughts and beliefs. Her greatest joy was her family and she loved to visit, go to get-togethers, cook dinners, have parties, write and receive letters with her distant friends, go to church, or go to her monthly meetings with The Kress Girls, her old cohorts from Kress's. She was a devout Catholic and provided her children with a strong, certain background of values. She was a contributor to numerous charities over the years including the Home of Guiding Hands, to which she donated alot of the greeting cards received over her lifetime going back to her childhood, to be used in that charity’s work. She reached the age of 103 with a happy, positive, brave attitude, and with no complaints. Always looking on the bright side, she approached life with only love and caring for all. Simply stated, she was the glass half full.
She was preceded in death by her parents, all of her siblings, daughter Barbara O’neil, son Lawrence Sisson, and husband Norbert. She is survived by her sons Gerald Sisson and John Sisson, 6 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren, and an ever-increasing number of great-great grandchildren, all of whom will mourn her loss and celebrate her life and influence in theirs.
Services will take place at 11:00 on Friday, August 5th at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, 3585 30th St. in San Diego, Ca. with a reception to follow at the adjoining church hall. Please feel free to call John Sisson at 619 987 0525 with any questions. Dorothy Sisson, rest in peace.
Arrangements under the direction of Goodbody Mortuary, San Diego, CA.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18