Dorothy Jean Venard

Dorothy Jean Venard, 87, of Oklahoma City, died peacefully at Heaven House, surrounded by her daughters, on Sunday, January 25, 2015. Born in Oklahoma City, October 21, 1927, she was one of three children of Albert William and Evelyn Tuck Kruger. Her marriage of 53 years to her high school sweetheart, Daniel Henry Venard, began on December 27, 1948, and ended only with his passing in 2002. Dorothy attended Bishop John Carroll Catholic School and Oklahoma A&M in Stillwater, where she was a member of Chi Omega Sorority. Dorothy was a lifelong member of the parish of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, and hosted reunions of her John Carroll classmates in addition to helping with PTA, Girl Scouts and President Kennedy's physical fitness program at the school, which her daughters also attended. Dorothy was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother to 8 daughters, 19 grandchildren, and 9 great grandchildren, and her happiest times were spent bringing them together to celebrate life's occasions. Her generous community spirit inspired her to share with family, friends, and community her love of nature and the water, at the family farm in Yukon, on annual outings to Padre Island, weekends at the cabin at Lake Texoma, or in her backyard pool, where she hosted weekly water exercises for women from all parts of Oklahoma City for over 25 years. Dorothy was one of the neighbors that everyone in the locally famous "34th Street Gang" between Classen and Western could count on. She loved Memorial Park, the Rocky Mountains, fishing, cooking, baking, and singing. She loved road trips in the station wagon, improvising picnics over an open fire, but she liked to stop in motels for the swimming pools. She loved bird watching, especially hummingbirds, and kept up this practice till the end, even as her eyesight faltered. Dorothy was proud of her daughters, their families, grandchildren and greats. She loved caring for others, looking after Grandpa, Aunt Em, anyone who was feeling under the weather. No one could calm a crying baby like she could. She tried to always live by the golden rule, always choosing forgiveness and cutting people a little slack. She had a sly sense of humor and a very quick wit, and found ways to make us laugh right up to the end. Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, her loving husband Dan, and her brother Albert William Kruger II. She is survived by her sister, Mary Beth Berney, and her daughters: Cindy Zimmerman and her husband, John Highkin, of San Diego, CA; Vickie and Tony Uzzo of Branford, CT; Carole and Frank Thompson of Oklahoma City; Mary and Brad Hoopes of Muskogee; Jan and Sam Allen of Sapulpa; Julie and Frank Wojcicki of Denver, CO; Jeannie and J.P. O'Brien of Oklahoma City; and Sally Venard of Oklahoma City. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Dan Zimmerman and his wife Kate, Michael Zimmerman and his wife Jenny, Anthony Uzzo and his wife Robin, Chris Uzzo and his wife Annie, Cam Thompson and his wife Sara, Jason Thompson, Bonnie Wise and her husband Scott, Ginny Hoopes, Mitch Hoopes, Tom Hoopes, Hannah Hoopes, Will Allen, Mary Beth Allen, Jody Allen and his wife Kelly, Alex Wojcicki, John Wojcicki, Maddie O'Brien, Beckett Venard, and Harper Venard. She is also survived by her great grandchildren: Lucy and Jack Zimmerman, Miles and Arlo Zimmerman, Nick and Zack Uzzo, Danny and Alex Uzzo, and Graham Thompson. The family wants to especially thank Diane Timmerman and the Heaven House Staff: Dedra, Martha, Vanessa, Roseanna, Samantha, Deborah, and Kathy. We also thank Carter Home Health and Hospice. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Bishop John Carroll Catholic School, NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), or the Alzheimer's Association of Oklahoma City. Evening Prayer Services will be held Friday, January 30, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. at the Smith and Kernke Chapel, 14624 N. May Avenue. Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, January 31, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 3214 Lake Ave., with a brief reception to be held at Connor Center across from the cathedral. Burial will follow at Frisco Cemetery on West Britton Rd, 2 ½ miles west of Piedmont Road (Highway 4).