Dorothy J. Brooks, 97, passed away peacefully on July 24, 2015, in Vero Beach FL. Dorothy and her husband, Ralph, had been residents of Vero Beach for 30 years, retiring there from Farmington CT.

Born and raised in Syracuse NY, Dorothy enjoyed an idyllic childhood in central New York and married her childhood sweetheart, Ralph Brooks. His career took them to Bloomfield NJ, Albany NY and Hartford CT where Dotty was quick to make friends with her outgoing personality. Becoming a Welcome Wagon hostess seemed a natural evolution. Her passions were golf, music and bridge, and she was active in church choirs and Sweet Adelines for many years. In Vero Beach, Dorothy was a member of Bent Pine Golf Club, the Community Church of Vero Beach, and the Indian River Memorial Hospital Auxiliary.

Dorothy was pre-deceased by Ralph, her husband of 71 years, in 2013, but is survived by her son, Ralph & wife Mary Brooks of Chicago, IL; and daughter and son-in-law, Deborah & William MacLachlan of East Orleans, MA. She also has four grandchildren who, thanks to the annual family reunions that she initiated, are now close friends despite living literally all across the country. She has one great-grandchild.

A memorial service will be held at Indian River Estates West in Vero Beach at 11:00 AM, Saturday, Sept. 5., 2015. Condolences may be made at www.coxgiffordseawinds.com.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association at P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011, or online at www.alz.org