Dorothy C. (Cassellius) Hess was born on August 11, 1913 in the upper level of the funeral home where her body will now lie in state for her wake. Her parents were Augustine and Sarah (Bies) Casselius. She was the youngest of five children. Dorothy’s childhood years were spent in the Credit River and Spring Lake Township area.
Dorothy married Richard Hess on May 28, 1935 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Prior Lake. They were blessed with eight children, Mary, Roland, Rita, Helen, Ann, V. Joseph, Patricia and James.
She enjoyed vegetable gardening, square dancing, camping, fishing, bird watching, bingo, going to Mystic Lake to play the penny slots and collecting various food items as she took nature walks and eventually canned those items. She loved to play her accordion and harmonica. She also worked part time at the election polls.
Her travels included many states across the United States including Alaska and traveling abroad to Italy and the Holy land. Another one of her travels included a hot air balloon ride for her 70th birthday.
Dorothy was an active member of her church including the Sunday night prayer group, making 3,000 rosaries, a pro life advocate, and seeing the pope twice. Of all the things Dorothy saw and did, it was still family that remained number one.
At the age of 98 and a resident of Prior Lake, Dorothy Hess passed away peacefully in the presence of her family in the afternoon hours of Friday, April 20, 2012.
Forever loved, Dorothy will be deeply missed by her children, Mary (Dale) Mehus of Northwood, IA, Roland (Barb) Hess of Ormond Beach, FL, Rita (Joe) Gallagher of Lakeville, Helen Magnan of Edina, Ann (Jerry) Elias of Prior Lake, V. Joseph (Penni) Hess of Burnsville, Patricia (Steve) Schmidt of Prior Lake, James (Lesa) Hess of Burnsville; 29 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren, 5 great great grandchildren and her dear friend Donna Knox of Prior Lake.
Dorothy is preceded in death by her husband, Richard S. Hess; parents, Augustine and Sarah (Bies) Casselius; grandchildren, Dena and Michelle; brother, Charles Cassellius; sisters, Bernadine Slama, Nora Farrell, Irene Simpkins.
Dorothy’s pall bearers will be Kelly Thorsfeldt, John Hess, Michael Gallagher, Matthew Smith, Glen Elias, Keanen Wold, Tony Schmidt, Brandon Hess. Honorary pall bearers will be her other 21 grandchildren.
Visitation will be on Tuesday April 24, 2012 from 4:00-8:00 pm, at Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home, 4565 Pleasant Street SE, Prior Lake and Wednesday April 25, 2012 one hour prior to the mass at church. The Mass of Christian Burial will be on Wednesday April 25, 2012 at 11 a.m., at the Church of St. Michael, 16311 Duluth Ave. SE, Prior Lake. Father Tom Sieg will officiate. Dorothy will be laid to rest at St. Michael’s Catholic Cemetery in Prior Lake.
