Mother obituary examples for inspiration

Margaret Louise Ashworth, 85, of Richmond, Virginia, passed away peacefully at her home on Saturday, February 1, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. Born in Charlottesville, Virginia, on September 22, 1940, Margaret was the second daughter of William Robert Thornton and Eleanor Grace (Harmon) Thornton. She attended Lane High School, where she was valedictorian of the class of 1958, and earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Virginia in 1962. On June 14, 1963, Margaret married Robert James Ashworth at Christ Episcopal Church in Charlottesville. Their marriage spanned 58 years of partnership, adventure, and shared purpose until Robert's death in 2021. Margaret dedicated 35 years to nursing, beginning her career at UVA Medical Center and retiring as Director of Nursing at St. Mary's Hospital in Richmond in 1997. Her colleagues remember her as the person who set impossibly high standards and then helped everyone meet them. After retirement, Margaret channeled her energy into the Richmond Master Gardeners program, the Junior League of Richmond, and volunteering at the Central Virginia Food Bank. She was a faithful member of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, where she served on the vestry and the altar guild. Margaret's family knew her as someone who could solve any problem with a clear head, a firm opinion, and a pot of strong coffee. She kept a meticulous garden, read voraciously (two books a week until the very end), and never missed a grandchild's school event if she could help it. She believed that showing up was the most important thing a person could do. She is survived by her children, William R. Ashworth II (Catherine) of Alexandria, VA, Elizabeth A. Mercer (David) of Atlanta, GA, and James T. Ashworth (Anna) of Richmond, VA; eight grandchildren; her sister, Patricia T. Benson of Charlottesville; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert; her parents; and her sister, Elizabeth T. Goodwin. A funeral service will be held Thursday, February 6, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Central Virginia Food Bank.

Rosa Gutierrez, 68, of San Antonio, Texas, died at home on January 20, 2026, after a year-long battle with pancreatic cancer. She faced it the same way she faced everything else: with her family around her and a pot of beans on the stove. Rosa was born in Laredo, Texas, the youngest of seven children. She married Carlos Gutierrez in 1978 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. They raised four children in a three-bedroom house that somehow always had room for one more person at the table. She worked as a seamstress at Levi Strauss for 20 years, then at her own alterations shop on Commerce Street for another 15. She could look at a dress and tell you what was wrong with the fit before you even put it on. Rosa was the person her whole neighborhood called when someone was sick, when someone had a baby, or when someone just needed to talk. She brought food. She sat with people. She didn't offer advice unless you asked for it, and when you did, she was usually right. Her tamales at Christmas were an event. She started making them the week before and the whole family showed up to help. Nobody's have tasted the same since she got sick. Rosa is survived by her husband, Carlos; her children, Maria (David) Santos, Carlos Jr. (Anna) Gutierrez, Isabel Gutierrez, and Sofia (Robert) Trevino; eleven grandchildren; her sisters, Lucia Valdez and Carmen Reyes; and too many nieces and nephews to count. Rosary will be held Thursday at 7 p.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. Funeral Mass Friday at 10 a.m. Burial at San Fernando Cemetery.

Dorothy Patterson, 77, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died Wednesday at Mercy Medical Center after a brief illness. Her three daughters were by her side. If you knew Dorothy, you probably ate her banana bread at some point. She made it for new neighbors, sick friends, teachers, mail carriers, and anyone who looked like they were having a rough week. She once calculated she'd made over 2,000 loaves in her lifetime. Her family thinks that number was low. Born in Dubuque to Francis and Helen Sullivan, Dorothy grew up the oldest of five kids, a role she never stopped playing. She graduated from Wahlert High School in 1966 and married Tom Patterson the following spring. They were married for 54 years before Tom's death in 2021. Dorothy worked as a school secretary at Grant Elementary for 28 years. Three generations of students knew her as the lady at the front desk who always had Band-Aids and a calm voice. She loved her garden, terrible crime novels, and watching the Iowa Hawkeyes with unnecessary intensity. She was a member of St. Patrick's parish. Dorothy is survived by her daughters, Karen (Mike) Olsen, Linda Patterson, and Sarah (James) Cho; six grandchildren; her brother, Bill Sullivan; and her sisters, Kathleen Murphy and Patty Doyle. She was preceded in death by Tom, her parents, and her brother Michael. Visitation will be Friday from 4-7 p.m. at Turner Funeral Home. Funeral Mass Saturday at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick's Catholic Church.