Dorothy Mae Chaffee

Racine – Dorothy Mae (nee: Babak) Chaffee, 78, passed away at Wheaton Franciscan – All Saints Medical Center on Sunday, June 28, 2009 following a courageous battle with cancer. Dorothy was born in Milwaukee on February 24, 1931 to the late Louis and Barbara (nee: Blum) Babak and lived in Racine for most of her life. As the Class of 1949 Valedictorian of Greenwood High School, she excelled not only academically but was an award winning sousaphone player despite her small stature. Dorothy went on to graduate from the St. Mary’s School of Nursing in 1953. Faithful to her profession, she went back to school to receive a Bachelor of Science – Nursing in 1974 from St. Francis College in Joliet, IL. On August 22, 1953 in St. Sebastian Catholic Church – Sturtevant, she was united in marriage with the love of her life, Robert “Butch” Chaffee, who preceded her in death on December 4, 1980. With a profound faith in God, she was a proud and devoted member of St. Rose Catholic Church. Dorothy served our community as a surgical / operating room registered nurse at St. Mary’s Medical Center from 1953 until her retirement in 1995. As one of the first certified surgical nurses in Wisconsin, Dorothy was a long-time member of the Association of Operating Room Nurses. Drum Corps was also a passion of Dorothy’s. She was an accomplished musician with the Zion Community Band, Johnson Wax Band and was an involved member of the Racine Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps since 1963, where she handmade countless uniforms, banners and flags; and made sure all the members were well fed. Dorothy was awarded the 2005 Drum Corps International – Volunteer of the Year and was entered into their Hall of Fame. Among her other interests, she enjoyed player pianos, brilliant pink roses, swans and making quilts. Above all, she was a tireless wife, mom, grandmother and great-grandmother who always placed her family as priority one. Surviving are her children, Lynn Allen (Kathleen), Paul (Patricia), Michael, Bruce (Jean), Mark, Anthony (Holly), Randall and Debra Chaffee; grandchildren, Gwen (Greg) Sturm; Jeremy, Nick (Lucy), Rachel (fiancé, Mark Dolan), Sarah, Amy, Julie, Gary, Robert, Christopher (Brianna), Michelle, Pierce and Elise Chaffee; great-grandchildren, Andrew, Richard, Andraya, Rosalyn and Mariah Sturm; Araya, Marina and Layla Chaffee; brother, Albert (Eileen) Babak; sisters-in-law, Evelyn Babak and Marilyn Eaton; nieces and nephews, Barbara Babak, Sue Ellen (Gary) Voss, Alois Babak Jr., Judy Sheets, Therese (Mark) Schmidt, Clifford (Kathy) Babak, Sally (Curt) Gehr; Charles, Mary Jo and Thomas Urban; and Robert Becker; other relatives and dear family friends. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her daughter-in-law, Suzanne Chaffee; brother, Alois Babak Sr.; sister, Marie Lou Babak; sister-in-law, Jenny (Izzy) Babak, Catherine (Chaffee) Urban, Shirley Klamm; brothers-in-law, Henry Klamm and Howard Urban; and special uncle, Joseph Maruna. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, July 9, 2009 at 11 am in St. Lucy Catholic Church, 3101 Drexel Ave., with Rev. Mark R. Jones officiating. Interment will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery, Hwy 32. Visitation will be in the funeral home on Wednesday from 5-8 pm and in the church on Thursday from 10-11 am. In memory of Dorothy, memorials to the Racine Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps have been suggested.