In the early afternoon of July 22nd Dorothy Mae Vezetinski, having attained the age of 93, passed while in her home and will now spend eternity with our Lord in Heaven. Born in Chicago, IL to Edward P Burke and Anna C Heupler/Steiner this city girl would endeavor to burn every hour of each and every day in order to do it all. "Life is a journey not a Destination"

She met and married her Chicago beau Edwin in Oklahoma City just after high school. This first husband, an Army Air Corps pilot, died in WW II. A few years later she married a Naval Medical Service Officer, Anthony J Vezetinski in Portsmouth, VA. After shipping out to Camp Pendleton, Guam, Great Lakes and experiencing the Navy life for 20 years they retired in Bremerton WA with their 3 children. She was finally able to perfect her sewing and fabrication skills by opening a Millinery store on 6th Avenue and later another on Pacific Avenue where she created many stylish berets, pill boxes and sun hats for the ladies of Bremerton.

Fate again turned over her life when Tony passed away in 1965. Now, she was all of a sudden, single handedly raising a daughter and son in college and another son in high school. This required her to seek employment in the Emerald City across the Sound. While working at The Bon Marche she met a former Marine Corps Officer, Ted Jamieson. He was quite the northwest outdoorsman. They sailed off to her new adventures on their boat the Ski-J. Her next 35 plus years with Ted as her companion found her boating on the sound, skiing and hiking the mountain trails and traveling with Ted as he marketed various shoe lines to northwest establishments. They fully embraced golden retriever rescue. There was always a golden or few to go around at their house. No couch, car or pant leg was safe from the piles of fluffy golden hair we all picked up after visiting her.

Besides her early travels with her husbands and later companion, Dorothy enjoyed personal travel. Dorothy never knew a stranger, and could - and did - strike up a conversation about anything with anyone, and somehow find something in common to share. She took up competitive racquetball, much to our surprise, and traveled the US, even going so far as Ireland to compete. She had numerous medals and other awards as a seniors champion in women's divisions of the sport. Even into her 70s she took an IRF World Senior Championship. She enjoyed various trips with her friends and daughter to visit with granddaughters who were at posts with US State Department and Navy. Many a place like Rome, Cairo and Tunis with their open air markets found Dorothy leaving some vendor wondering who really won that last throw down with that spunky lady from Edmonds, WA. Her spirit of adventure was catching, and her energy indomitable. Few octogenarians ride camels around the Pyramids of Giza, exchange sewing tips with Cairene tent makers in the Khan el Khaleli, hike up to the top of Roman amphitheaters with the aid of a glittery or leopard-printed cane in Rome and El Jem, smoke a water pipe in Tunis tea house, or pop champagne corks and eat escargot on a Parisian bateau mouche river boat - but Dorothy did, and with style. Her home featured many interesting treasures from these trips to far off, exotic lands.

She frequently traveled to visit her daughter in Boston and son in the Navy. She arrived ready to tackle some upholstery project to enhance an old Victorian era's house or labor over a new set of curtains to dress up a dreary set of quarters.

Her in-home sewing rooms with epic supplies and computer operated embroidery machines were used in fashioning many legendary large quilts, purses and other wonderful projects. Dorothy became a master at spinnaker bags, duffel bags, dodgers and clothing items to outfit her son and his sailboats.

Dot's other two loves were cookery and cards. She picked up a few favorite dishes from her Austrian mother alike poppyseed coffeecake, (similar in style to a Kolach) and ox tail soup. Bridge was also something she thoroughly enjoyed. Up until the past year or so she wouldn't miss her classic duplicate bridge game with the Edmonds Welcomers club, Holy Rosary Bridge club or anyone else needing a fourth at the last minute.

Dorothy never passed up on an opportunity to dress to the 9s. She at all times had a personally designed hat to match her garments which were quite stylish and colorful. Her love for jewelry could be seen in her choice of large broaches, rings, hat and scarf pins.

Preceded in death by her parents, her sister Morine Dostert, husbands Edwin and Tony, companion Ted and much loved daughter Christine, She is survived by her grieving sons Patrick, Paul, their wives Denice and Cheryl, 7 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren and 3 nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be planned in the next month or so. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

"Sleep softly, you good mother the one who loved us so much.."