Dora Mae Hess, nee Barkstrom, age 93, of Arlington Heights, passed away February 27, 2019. Beloved wife of Paul Hess. Loving mother of Joy Hess. Cherished grandmother of Martin, Natalie, and Claire Czernicki. Fond aunt of many (known as Aunt Dorie). Dora is preceded in death by her sister Jane, and brothers Alfred and Gilbert as well as her parents Viola Accettura and Roy Barkstrom and her step father, Nicola Accettura. Dora graduated from St. Anne’s School of Nursing in the 1940s and then Graduated from Loyola with a bachelor’s degree in microbiology. During further coursework at Northwestern, she met and married Paul Hess (after she proposed by saying “you'd be a fool if you don’t marry me” so he did). Together they had one daughter, Joy. They later had 3 grandchildren, Martin, Natalie and Claire. Anyone who knows Dora knows that she was a caretaker. She lived to take care of anyone in need and would never turn anyone away. She taught religious education for many years at the parish and her young students just loved “Mrs. Hess”. She loved having a pool in the backyard and went swimming every day. She loved anything blue or anything with a cardinal. She adored her nieces ( Cheryl, Gail, Heather, Joyce, Nancy, Yvonne, Jill and Sarah), nephews (Wayne, Gilbert Dale, Sean, David, Matt, Michael and Scott) great-nieces (21) and nephews (13) and even great great nieces and nephews. She was a beloved friend to Jerry, Fran and Rosie and so many others that crossed her path over the years. She would start up a conversation with nearly anyone. She was eternally optimistic and believed in the saying “the difficult you do immediately, the impossible just takes a little longer”. She and Paul were married over 53 years. They were a true example of Christian marriage. Even through the brutalities of her dementia, he stayed by her side and always called her sweetheart. She loved the color blue, and anything with cardinals. Her life changed after her grandchildren were born. They were the joys of her life. She was so proud of them, and even to the very end, they were the ones who could always bring a smile to her face. Even in the last years when glimpses of the younger Dora were harder and harder to find, she would still express deep gratitude for having had such a wonderful life and loving family. She always said “God has been so good to us”. Yes, indeed he has. Rest in Peace. In liu of flowers the family will make donations to Relevant Radio and to Little Sisters of the Poor. Visitation Monday, 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Friedrichs Funeral Home, 320 W. Central Rd. at Northwest Highway, Mt. Prospect. Visitation Tuesday, 9:00 a.m. until Funeral Mass 10:00 a.m. at St. Cecilia Church, Golf Rd. (Rt. 58) at Meier Rd., Mt. Prospect. Entombment All Saints Cemetery. Funeral information call 847-255-7800 or www.friedrichsfh.com