Dolores Mae Sosnow, 88, of Shawnee Mission, Kansas, passed away peacefully on April 10 as she wished, in her home at Village Shalom.
Born to Joe and Bessie Brenner on Nov. 10, 1936, she spent her entire life in Kansas City, raised in a loving home with her immediate and extended family at 23rd and Prospect.
It was here that she would learn Yiddish, the main language spoken in the home, and the many cooking recipes from the old country.
Dolores graduated from Paseo High School and was an active member of the Jewish youth groups BBG and Mizrachi. It was at school and in these youth organizations where she would meet many lifelong friends.
Dolores married her husband of blessed memory, Dr. William Sosnow, in 1959 at Congregation Beth Shalom. She was fond of recounting how her Uncle Sol met a young man, Bill as he was known, at Hillel in Lawrence, Kansas. He was saying Kaddish for his father, and Sol would go on to set up Dolores and Bill. They enjoyed a wonderful courtship, married, and would soon move to Rome, Italy, for three years where Bill attended medical school.
Dolores and Bill settled back in Kansas City, raising a family together and becoming active members in the community. Dolores was specifically proud of her time as a volunteer at both Beth Shalom, with the Sisterhood — among many other organizations — and the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy.
While Dolores was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 18 years, she found love and life in raising her three children, doting over her grandchildren and involving herself in many activities. Among her favorites were gardening, cooking, travel, adult education, reading and following the Chiefs, Royals and Jayhawks. As she was unable to attend college, she always had a thirst for knowledge and enjoyed taking classes from Rabbi Morris Margolies as well as art classes at the Nelson Atkins Museum and history courses at UMKC. Her garden always bloomed with the seasons and she loved playing with her many dogs as they frolicked through her flowers. She was a voracious reader and always had several books by her nightstand. Her home was always open to her children’s friends and those who needed a table to go to for the holidays. Thanksgiving and Passover were particularly noteworthy for Dolores as she hosted upwards of 30 guests and family with all the traditional dishes she took such joy in preparing.
Later in life, she continued her volunteer work at many local organizations, including the Kansas City Toy and Miniature Museum and various soup kitchens, where she was a mainstay.
Her travels took her to many states and countries, and she always brought back some tchotchkes for her kids and grandkids. She was most grateful to travel to Israel with her sister in 1983.
Dolores’s later years were spent at Village Shalom, where she thrived and was able to reconnect with many friends from her youth and other stages of life. She loved to hand out candy and kibbitz with everyone. She “held court” every Friday for Shabbos dinner with her friends, “the Knights of the Round Table” as they affectionately and cheekily referred to themselves. Her family is grateful for all those in the community who have made Village Shalom an indispensable place for so many.
Dolores was so grateful for the care her doctors, nurses, aides, hospice workers and all at Village Shalom always showed her. They gave her back the love she radiated. The family extends a special acknowledgement to her caregivers Chris, Yuli and Ashley.
She is survived by her son Michael Sosnow (Kathy); daughter, Elise Sosnow Cohen, (Steven) and son, Jeffrey Sosnow (Beth); brother, Steven Brenner (Susan), and sister, Harriett Krueger; her grandchildren, Belinda Sosnow, Ariella Cohen Fleischman (Eitan), Tamar Cohen Fink (Josh), Jacob Cohen, Abby Sosnow and Stella Sosnow; niece Carla Brenner and nephews David Brenner (Amber) and Andrew Brenner; two great-grandchildren, Gavriel and Erez; and great-nephew and niece Beau and Neve.
Graveside funeral services were held on April 15 at Mt. Carmel Cemetery.
Donations may be made to Village Shalom in her name.