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Sister Dorothy Dees, SNJM
November 26, 1934 – March 16, 2026
Sister Dorothy Dees, SNJM departed this life on March 16, 2026 in Seattle, Washington.
Sister Dorothy celebrated 91 years of life and 68 years of her religious profession.
A Mass of Resurrection will be held on Monday, May 4, 2026, in the chapel at Holy Names Academy in Seattle, Washington.
Her inurnment will take place on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at Holy Names Cemetery in Marylhurst, Oregon.
Sister Dorothy Dees, SNJM
November 26, 1934 – March 16, 2026
Sister Dorothy Dees, SNJM, 91, died on March 16 in Seattle. Mass of Resurrection is May 4, in the chapel at Holy Names Academy, Seattle. Burial will be on May 6 at Holy Names Cemetery, Marylhurst, Oregon.
Daughter of Silas and Mary (Bresnahan) Dees, Dorothy was born in Idaho where she spent most of her early years until the family moved to Santa Ana, California, in her teens. After high school she attended junior college and worked as a reporter and editor in Santa Ana.
In 1956, feeling called to religious life, Dorothy entered the Oregon Holy Names novitiate at Marylhurst. Her aunt, Sister Mary Norberta, was a member of the Oregon Province and insisted she enter there. As a novice, Dorothy received the religious name Sister Mary Kristen. She later graduated with a BA in English Literature from Marylhurst College and an MA in English from College of the Holy Names, Oakland.
Dorothy’s ministry was devoted to secondary education, teaching English and journalism for 18 years at St. Mary’s Academy, Portland. The next 29 years she spent at Holy Names Academy, Seattle, as an English teacher, supervisor of yearbook publications, and sometimes teacher of religion classes. Later in her years at Holy Names, she took on the task of Registrar. She had a deep devotion to St. Anthony, overseeing items in Lost and Found at Holy Names, and also, as Registrar, always praying to St. Anthony that she wouldn’t lose any important records.
One thing always remembered about Dorothy was her genuine care and concern shown to each student. Even after retiring, she remained closely associated with Holy Names Academy.
From Holy Names Academy comes these fond thoughts of Dorothy: “We remember her for her gentle smile, her ready sense of humor, and her quiet, generous spirit. … Above all, she was a woman of deep faith, devoted to God, and she lived that faith each day through her service to others, including the students and alumnae of Holy Names Academy.” She had, too, a great love for her family and the Sisters of the Holy Names and a warm friendship with the parishioners at St. Joseph’s Parish, Seattle
About her sense of humor, Dorothy was always one with a joke to share in any social setting. At The Murano, her retirement community, residents often stopped by her table at meals just to ask for a joke.
Dorothy followed world events with great interest. In particular she cared deeply about environmental issues. The environmentalist Bill McKibben was one of her often-quoted authors: “Climate change is the single biggest thing that humans have ever done on this planet. The one thing that needs to be bigger is our movement to stop it.”
A Holy Names Sister for 67 years, Dorothy is survived by her siblings, Mary Boyce (Dick), Christine Mini, Joseph Dees, and her niece Michelle Dalzell and the members of her religious community. Remembrances may be made to Sisters of the Holy Names, PO Box 398, Marylhurst, OR 97036 or online at www.snjmusontario.org.