Dolores Won't Call Anymore

Wednesday morning I got one of those phone calls that you're never prepared to get. Dolores's granddaughter, Shannon, called to tell me that Dolores passed away on Tuesday, quite suddenly and unexpectedly. Her granddaughter, Heather, was driving her home from the Motor Vehicles office where she had just renewed her driver's license when she suddenly felt ill. After a call to 911 and a trip to the hospital, Dolores passed away with her family by her side.

Dolores crocheted over 550 afghans for Project Linus. She saw Dawn Spencer (the first Kansas City coordinator) on the local news shortly after the chapter started in June 1997. Dolores phoned Dawn and Dawn drove from Overland Park to south Kansas City to take yarn to Dolores. This continued a few months until I observed that it would be more efficient for me to visit Dolores, since Dolores lived 2 miles from I-470 where I drove to work and to visit Dawn.

So began my visits with Dolores. About every 5 to 8 weeks she would call with afghans finished and needing more yarn. She loved to talk about her family and was proud of them. (Her 18 year old great-grandson crochets!) Dolores was 80 when she began crocheting for Project Linus. January 26 would have been her 91st birthday.

I visited Dolores on Jan. 4 and picked up 7 afghans. Shannon told me there are 2 more finished afghans ready for Project Linus.

I said my final farewell this morning. I knew no one at the funeral. I had met Heather a couple of times and she remembered me. I just told the rest of the family I was the yarn lady and they knew who I was. I will miss Dolores. She was a remarkable woman.

More about Dolores: Colorful Afghans, Meet Dolores, Yarn Out, Afghans In - Sept. 22. 2006, Yarn Out, Afghans In - Aug. 09. 2006