With sadness, we announce the death of Dorothy Jean Souza.
She was born on July 19, 1932 to Mateus and Maria Souza, Sr. and passed away on Thanksgiving Day, November 23, 2023.
She lived on the family farm 3 miles out of town off of highway 152 where you could find her helping with many different chores.
Later in she moved to town with her family where she resided during her long- blessed life of 91 years.
The youngest of 7 children. Her siblings included Marie, Mateus, Jr., Laura and two brothers who passed away soon after birth.
Dorothy attended schools in Los Banos. While in high school she was a member if the Girls' Athletic Club where she enjoyed playing basketball. She said that she wasn't very good at it but always tried her best.
After graduating, she became a bookkeeper with the Los Banos Dairymen's Association until her retirement. Then, she volunteered at the Los Banos Community Hospital, now Sutter Gould Hospital. There she met many friends and always enjoyed the announcement when a baby was born. She gained a number of longtime friends. Dorothy continued to volunteer until the pandemic when volunteers were not allowed.
Dorothy was a member of Our Lady of Fatima Association, Lusso-American and AARP, where she served on many different committees most recently she was the clubs Historian.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Mateus and Maria Souza Sr., brother, Mateus Souza Jr., (Edna), Laura Tristao, (Marciel) and two brothers Joseph Souza and Joseph Souza, Jr. her niece Lori Ingram's husband, Brent Ingram and niece, Carol Aspesi.
She is survived by her 3 nieces, Mellissa Womack, Deborah Souza and Lori Ingram, great nieces Sierra (Ryan) Schmitt, Amanda (Charles) and most recently great, great niece River Rose.
Some of her favorite things were her many travels around the world, going on AARP trips, attending Roger Rocca plays in Fresno, spending time with family and friends, making sure her house and yard were always kept up. Her yard was always filled with many beautiful flowers. Another joy of hers were the many cats that she nurtured until their natural deaths. She will definitely be missed by her current living cat, Lucky, who wandered into her yard one day and decided to stay.
Dorothy Jean Souza will truly be missed for the joy that she brought to family and friends.

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