Dorothy Woodruff

Dorothy Jean Woodruff, 90, of Highlands Ranch, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on April 17, 2014. She was born on October 27, 1923 in Walsenburg, Colorado to Mary (Giro) Lenzini and J. Albert Lenzini. She graduated Valedictorian of her class from St Mary’s high school in Walsenburg and attended Mount St. Scholastica College in Atchison, Kansas. She married Kenneth Oliver Woodruff, of Walsenburg, on May 24, 1947 They were married for 62 years when Ken passed away in 2010. They had five children. Dorothy made it her mission in life to serve her family and friends, and that she did exceptionally well with kindness and grace. She loved to laugh. A prayer plaque in her kitchen reflected her light hearted approach to life: “Prayer for the Day – So far today, God, I’ve done all right, I haven’t gossiped, Haven’t lost my temper, Haven’t been grumpy, Nasty or selfish. But in a few minutes, I’ll get out of bed. And from then on, I’m going to need a lot of your help!” It was apparent that God answered her prayer as we were blessed by fruits of her faith — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control. She loved to cook. Her homemade Italian dishes: Raviolis, Tortellini, Risotto, poppy seed and nut bread, were a hallmark of our family tradition and just one of the many ways she blessed our lives. Even our family pets enjoyed homemade gourmet treats and were beneficiaries of her loving kindness. Her last words were: “Ya know, I sure have had a wonderful life.” The reality is she made it a wonderful life for us. She will be greatly missed by her surviving family: sons and daughter-in-laws Kenneth and Deborah Woodruff of Lexington, KY; Richard and Margie Woodruff of Salt Lake City, UT; Robert and Diane Woodruff of Banks OR; and Gary and Lou Ann Woodruff of Highlands Ranch, CO, and her 14 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband Ken, her daughter, Donna Kadell, her mother, Mary Lenzini and father Joseph Albert Lenzini, sisters, Vera Amidei, Leona Zupancic, and brothers Don Lenzini and Albert Lenzini. A funeral mass will be celebrated at 10:30 AM on Tuesday April 29 at All Souls Catholic Church, 4950 South Logan St., Englewood CO 80113. Interment in Ft Logan National Cemetery will be at 2:30pm. You may send flowers to the church or make a donation to Little Sisters of the Poor, Samaritan House or a charity of your choice.