| Dorothy-Dawn Palmer, known to all who knew and loved her as "Dee Dee" or quite simply "Dee", came into this world on March 14th, 1991. On November 3rd, 2007, she was taken away from us. Hers was a life that had only spanned a time period of 16 years, 7 months, 2 weeks, and 6 days. Though her nickname "Dee" was simple, there was nothing simple about who she was and the accomplishments she had made in her far too brief life. Before Dee had ever started to attend public schools at the age of 5, she had begun attending Sunday School with her Grandmother Palmer. It was to be the beginning of what became her life-long relationship with church and God. Dee was born into a very large family comprised of her parents, grandparents, sisters, countless aunts and uncles, and literally hundreds of cousins. As she got older her family extended to include step-parents, step-brothers, step-sisters, nieces and nephews. She was her mother’s only child and the youngest daughter of her father. Even with a biological family as large as this, that she was very much a part of, she still had room in her heart for more. To Dee, her family was EVERYONE!! Dee was not a judgmental person. She was supportive, loving, and caring of all. She was the one who would reach out to those who seemed to not be part of the "in-crowd". There was an instance that took place one Sunday morning at the church Dee was attending that is a true testament to Dee’s loving, caring nature. A young man who had been battling an addiction had chosen to attend church. He sat in the back row of the church all alone. Dee saw him by himself, left the "family" she was seated with, and went to just sit by the young man so he would not be alone. She stuck by him, offered her support, and welcomed him to be a part of her church "family". Dee was truly extraordinary. Honestly, there are not many older adults that would have been willing or caring enough to reach out to anyone the way Dee did on that day and so many other times in her brief life. It was important to Dee that no one was to ever be left out!! If it seemed that someone was being pushed aside, Dee was the first to make sure they were included. She truly followed her heart and took other people’s feelings into consideration. And sometimes, I’m sure, even at the expense of possibly being shunned herself. Dee was very passionate about anything and everything she was involved in. As stated earlier, she had a life-long relationship with God that had carried throughout her life. Aside from just attending church services, she also attended church conferences. Furthermore, she would provide childcare at the church for people attending church meetings that had young children. Academically, Dee was an excellent student. She made the honor roll several times and was consistently an A/B student. Beyond academics, Dee excelled in other areas at her school as well. Dee had participated in Band, Drama Club, Basketball, Softball, and Field Hockey. On October 24th, 2007 (just 10 days before her death) she helped to lead her school in becoming the Western Maine Division Field Hockey Champions. And in addition to excelling academically and athletically, Dee was also a member of the Future Business Leaders of America. She had been on her way to attend a conference for the FBLA on the day she was killed. A bright future was on the horizon for Dorothy-Dawn Palmer. Her future plans were to be involved in the medical field. At one point Dee was considering becoming a physical therapist. Dee was not a young lady who just simply rushed into things or made spur of the moment decisions. She was very methodical in making sure the choices she made were going to carry her in the direction she wanted to go. So, in the spring of 2007, Dee had gone so far as to attend the National Leadership Forum on Medicine at Emory College in Georgia. In looking back and reflecting on the short, brief life that Dee had, it is not at all surprising that she had chosen a profession that included caring for and helping people. Aside from needing to further her education by going to college to learn clinical terms and procedures and getting her degree in the field she was going to pursue, Dee already possessed the most important ingredients that anyone in the medical profession should have. She hadn’t had to learn it. It was the essence of who Dorothy-Dawn Palmer was. A young lady who exemplified patience, compassion, love, caring, and understanding for everyone!! Dee appreciated the simple pleasures in life. She loved the special times with family, loved laughing with friends, loved playing sports, loved music, loved animals, loved nature, loved the sunshine, loved the snow,-- Dorothy-Dawn Palmer loved ----- life. Everyone blessed with having known her loved her too. Her radiant smile, her warm hugs, her cute sense of humor, and everything about her will be missed by all whose lives she touched. Dee accomplished far more in her 16 years, 7 months, 2 weeks, and 6 days on this earth than a lot of us will accomplish in our long full lives. There is no doubt that Dee would have continued to make a difference in this world to all who knew her already and to those whose lives she would have eventually touched. Dee would have undoubtedly continued on her path to include everyone and care for all. She would have been an asset to any community that she may have chosen to live in, and to the many people that would have benefitted had she lived to pursue her dream and goal of working in the medical profession Dorothy-Dawn Palmer will never again share laughter with her friends, love and warmth with her family, or just a day in the sun. Never will she march into the high school auditorium to receive her diploma along with her friends. Never will she proudly walk down the aisle on her father’s arm to begin a life with a man she would have loved. Never will Dee experience the magic of looking into the eyes of her newborn child for the first time. No– none of this will ever happen. Dee gave the world her all and never got back what would have been some of the most beautiful times of her life. Though she is gone and will never do so many things, what she had already accomplished is a true testament to who Dee was. We can only wonder what could have or would have been, but one thing is for sure. Dorothy-Dawn Palmer would have continued to remain true to her worldly family and herself and she would have continued to be a positive influence in this world. Words cannot begin to express the horrific pain and shock of losing one so young and so loved. She was a bright light in our hearts and her memory will continue to shine until all whose lives she touched have gone to join her. |
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| This beautiful Angel Pin was handcrafted and designed by Rosemary, In Loving Memory of Dee-Dee. Thank You, Rosemary. "Her light still shines" |
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| Annual Worldwide Candle Lighting
The 1st Sunday In December Candles will be lit at 7:00 pm in every time zone and burn for 1 hour in memory of all children who have died, producing a wave of light that will encircle the earth. As candles burn down in one time zone, it becomes 7:00 pm in another, creating a 24 hour memorial. Please light a candle at 7:00 pm on the 1st Sunday in December in memory of all children who have died and in Memory of DeeDee. |
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