VAMES, Dorothea (Darth)

The Arizona Republic, Phoenix, AZ Sunday, September 1, 2013 Vames, Dorothea "Darth" 83, wife, mom of four, nana od seven, and great-nana of two, passed away June 24, 2013, of natural causes. Dorothea was born in Chicago on Valentines Day, 1930. she began studing dance at 4 years old with Morgan Dance Academy in Illinois. She also performed with her sisters Marion and Betty. {The Kallas Sisters" for the Olson & Johnson show, touring county fairs and other venues around the country. She was a loving wife, mother, and homemaker extraordinaire. Holiday festivities at Mom's house meant uncles, aunts, cousins, granparents, and plenty of tasty food and drink. Among her Greek specialties were avgalemono soup, pastitsio, and lemon chicken. And for dessert, the prized "mellies," delicious cookies dipped in honey, and sprinkled with cinnamon and crushed walnuts that nobody could resist. In 1972, she earned an associate's degree(Phi Theta Kappa) in elementary education specializing in teaching special-needs students. She was a teacher's aide in the public school system of Glenview, Illinois for eight years and in Tempe School District #3 in Arizona for 23 years. She inspired children who struggled to learn and gave them the hope and love they needed to succeed. She became a Mary Kay representative in 1989 and continued in this role well into her 70's. She showed women pf all ages, and some men too, how to look and feel their best. Dorothea's bright spirit lives on in her children, Vickie, John, Heidi, and Carter; her grandchildren, James, Vaneseea, Dustin, Kendall, Kaylee, Joshua, and Carter; and her great-grandchildren, Maliyah, and Briella. A celebration of her life will be held at Michael Pollack's Tempe Cinemas on Saturday, September 7, 2013, from 2:00-4:00 pm.