Dorthy Odell Depriest

Dorthy Odell Depriest, age 92 years, formerly of Niles, Michigan; mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, gardener, cook, and shopper died peacefully at 3:00 a.m. on Monday, September 2, 2024 at the River Bluff Nursing Home in Rockford, Illinois following an extended illness.

She was born on July 23, 1932 in Thomasville, Tennessee to Elmo and Loula Mae (McWherther) Pope, and attended school in Tiptonville, Tennessee. She moved to Berrien Springs, Michigan as a young lady in 1949, and was employed at the former Mercy Hospital in Benton Harbor, Michigan. In 1992, she moved to Niles, and was employed at Lutheran General Hospital in Chicago, and in 2004 moved to Rockford.

Dorthy was raised in a Christian household, and in Michigan, was a member of the Peace Temple Church of God in Christ in Dowagiac, Michigan. She enjoyed gardening, both flowers and vegetables, and used the produce of her garden in the kitchen where everyone loved her collard greens cooked with ham hocks. She also enjoyed the textile crafts, knitting, crochet, and quilting. Outside of the house, she often ate at restaurants, and was a great shopper, including some epic, marathon sessions at Walmart. As her health declined, she replaced her outdoor time in the garden with journeys in her motorized scooter, going down to the riverfront in Niles to feed the ducks.

All of her life, she was devoted to caring for her family, and providing a home to foster children.

On July 17, 1953 in Alcorn County, Mississippi she married Joe Willie Depriest, with whom she celebrated the Forty-eighth anniversary of their wedding prior to his death on January 13, 2002. She was sadly preceded in death by twin sons who died in infancy of pneumonia. She was also preceded in death by her parents, and by her siblings, James Lewis Mackem, Willie Martin, Jr., and Billie Mae McWherther.

Surviving family includes her children, Derrick Depriest, Barrick Depriest, Brandon Depriest, and Joe Depriest, Jr. all of Niles, Marshall Depriest of Benton Harbor, Tony Depriest of Kalamazoo, Michigan, Roland “Willie” Depriest of Ionia, Michigan, Drew Depriest of Benton Harbor, Michael Carl “Cookie” Depriest, Raymond Depriest, and Steve Depriest; seventeen grandchildren, and many great-grandchildren; Dorthy’s siblings, Leslie Martin of Martin, Tennessee, and Ruby Rogers of Rockford, who provided Dorthy’s care; many nieces and nephews; and an elderly aunt, Daisy Farmer.

The funeral service for Dorthy Depriest will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 6, 2024 at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street in Niles with Pastor Tracey Hatcher of Peace Temple officiating. Committal rites will follow at Mission Hills Memorial Gardens, north of Niles. Online condolences and memories may be left at:

www.halbritterwickens.com

Ninety-two years is a remarkably long life – far beyond the 70, or if by strength, 80 years promised in the Bible – and Dorthy used those years well, providing a comforting and healing environment at the hospital, working with her hands to create blankets, and enjoying the outdoors. But more important was the people in her life, those patients at the hospital, friends at the riverfront and fellow shoppers; and above all, her children and their families, and her beloved Joe Willie.