C. Jean Dodd

     I write this as I say goodbye:

She lies there, me holding her hand, so cool to the touch. Short, uneven breaths, laboring and so painful to watch. Her eyes, open now, looking out the window, snow quietly falling. Does she see or has her vision clouded with age. I hope she knows I’m here; maybe not, for then she would see my sorrow and that would bother her. Does she know her time is short and soon we must say goodbye. I watch her and see all the years have done; the grey hair, the lines on her face; the precious memories still visible in her eyes, the bad times, the good times, the best of times. My wish for her, if there is an afterlife – there has to be – where else would all the good ones that have left us go and be together, she will join them. “DEAL” When she gets there I know Perron will be sitting on her shoulder chatting away even tho she would jokingly threaten to smack him if he bit her, I still miss my little bird, be good. It’s so hard to say goodbye to my best friend, my hero, my Mom. So until we meet again know you hold my heart. 4:47 P.M. and she’s gone.

     C. Jean Dodd sadly passed away on January 17, 2018 at Middletown Park Manor at the age of 90 with her loving and devoted son by her side. Jean was born in Middletown, NY on March 4, 1927 to Lenora “Daisy” Sparks.

    Mom was a very giving and strong woman all her life and overcame many hurdles, Polio being one of them. She raised five children, three being her step-children, all were raised equally with love and discipline but more love than anything else and as a school bus driver for over thirty years had a really great influence on hundreds more. Mom became manager for Otisville Bus Co. in Otisville, NY and G&G Bus Co. in Florida, NY until she retired in 1984.

    An avid swimmer, she was a swimming and water safety instructor for the American Red Cross and waterfront director for Birch Ridge Girl Scout Camp in Otisville, affectionately nicknamed “Sparky” and was a lifetime member of the Girl Scouts.

    Always ready for an adventure and the outdoors, she loved waterskiing (taught a lot of us) snowmobiling out back or upstate, traveling with family, vacations at the beach, playing cards…just a woman with a huge heart to share with everyone.

     Attending schools in Middletown in her early years, mom was a member of the National Thespian Dramatic Honor Society for High Schools Troop No. 74.

    Surviving Mom is her daughter, Barbara Wingrove of Clearwater, FL, her son, me, Gary of Wurtsboro, NY, 11 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, 10 great great grandchildren, 9 great great great grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, cousins and a huge bunch of loving friends.

    Mom was predeceased by her amazing mother “Daisy”, husband Stanley R. Dodd, son S. Robert Dodd, daughter Shirley E. Flynn and her husband William, son Stanley J. Dodd, brother Charles F. Sparks and his wife Annette, brother Paul E. Sparks and his wife Emily, and many friends.

    Special thanks to all the staff at Middletown Park Manor for all their tireless care and compassion they showed Mom during her extended stay and for tolerating me!

    Burial will be private at Mom’s request in the family plot in Grahamsville Rural Cemetery and if the spirit moves you please donate to the Humane Society or ASPCA but at the least do something nice for someone – anyone. Mom would love that.

   Arrangements have been entrusted to the Cornelius, Dodd & Connell Funeral Home, Middletown, NY. 

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