Grandmother never stopped learning and trying new things
Dorothy C. Kingsland ~ 1922-2007
Dorothy C. Kingsland's family said she had a flair for life and was always up for a challenge.
Mrs. Kingsland, 85, who died from lung cancer last week at her Libertyville home, taught herself to use the computer, became a volunteer firefighter and helped friends with carpentry projects.
Raised on Long Island, Mrs. Kingsland modeled to help support her family during the Great Depression, daughter Dawn Caden said.
She stopped modeling after meeting her husband, Russell, on St. Patrick's Day. The two were married and traveled the United States while Russell served in the military.
After her children were grown, Mrs. Kingsland enrolled in college at the age of 50 and obtained her associates degree in architectural drafting. She worked as an engineer for International Harvester until retiring.
From there, Caden said, her mother wanted to "simply experience life to the fullest."
Mrs. Kingsland taught herself to use a computer and took great joy buying items and reselling them on eBay.
"She would go to the Goodwill, purchase something for $2, then take a picture of it and sell it on the computer," Caden said. "Then, she would get so excited when the item sold for $6. She would get really happy and tell everyone."
At the age of 80, she wanted to try firefighting. Mrs. Kingsland enrolled and graduated from the Citizens Fire Academy in Gurnee, officially becoming a volunteer firefighter.
"She did it all, carried the hoses and climbed ladders," Caden said. "It was pretty amazing to me."
Three years later, Mrs. Kingsland decided to use the trade she learned decades earlier from her father and began helping friends with carpentry projects.
In one afternoon, the then-83-year-old grandmother of 12 ripped up the tile of her home and replaced it with hardwood floors, Caden said.
"She just was so full of life and never settled," she said. "She was always learning and trying to do something people said she couldn't. She was great."
She was an established pen and ink artist, Caden said, and would be hired by people to draw their houses. She was an excellent knitter, but refused to knit something unless the stitches were more complex and challenging.
"She was always very conscious of the fact that she had a wonderful marriage and six kids who she loved and loved her to death," she said. "I can't say enough about her."
Interment was Monday at Lakeside Cemetery in Libertyville.
She is survived by six children: Judith (John) Guarnieri of Ponde Vedra Beach, Fla., Jane Kingsland of Ventura, Calif., Dawn (Brian) Caden of Oak Park, Carol (William) Englehaupt of Arlington, Va., Russell (Kristen) Kingsland of Grand Rapids, Mich., and Brooke (Chris) Jensen of Lakemoor.
Memorials may be made to Seguin Services Inc., 3100 S. Central Ave., Cicero, IL 60804, which provides vocational residential services for disabled adults. (847) 362-3009.