Dorothy Adeline Winner

Dorothy Winner, born August 18, 1918, passed away peacefully November 6, 2020 at the age of 102. Born in Saint Paul, Minnesota to Ana and Nels Nordquist, Dorothy was a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She had a vivacious personality and calm demeanor, always making people around her laugh and feel at ease.

Dorothy met the love of her life, Charles Winner, in a hotel in Chicago. They later eloped and moved to California where Dorothy worked hard to create a beautiful life for their 4 loving children. She was a first generation Swedish American and was known to make the best Swedish pancakes. She was the embodiment of a 1950s housewife, treasuring her children and embracing every moment with them. Later in life, she especially loved her role as Grandma and Great Grandma.

A brilliant mind and a lover of literature, Dorothy had a kind heart and always had wise words to share. She was an avid writer, reader, and journaled until her final days. She loved history and reading about historical figures. She was born during the Spanish Flu pandemic and lived through many historical events from the depression to the Vietnam War.

Dorothy always praised and focused on the good in everybody. She was someone who made everyone feel special. Two things that she always repeated “do the best you can with each day” and “just laugh and make the best of every situation, try not to worry”.

She was a special person in so many lives and her lessons and laugh will not soon be forgotten.

Dorothy is survived by her sister Hazel, her two sons, Chuck and Jim Winner, and her two daughters, Charlene Winner and Sandra Wilson, along with her grandchildren Alex Wilson, Cristina Hudlin (Shane) and Michelle Bien (Colby), plus 6 great grandchildren and many nephews and nieces, all of whom she loved and touched deeply.

In lieu of flowers, please take a moment to be kind to a stranger do something nice for somebody else. These are the things that make our life complete.