Dorothy I. Foss

Dorothy I. Foss, formerly of Fremont, Ohio, passed away on Monday, August 5, 2024 in Boise, Idaho where she had resided since 2018. She was born on March 23, 1933, on the family farm in Gibsonburg, Ohio to Jesse and Hattie (Moll) VanNess. She was the youngest of thirteen children. Dorothy was a 1951 graduate of Gibsonburg High School. 

Dorothy married Jay F. Foss on April 11, 1953 at Zion Lutheran Church in Gibsonburg, Ohio. Jay passed away in 2008. She lived most of her adult life in Fremont, Ohio where she and Jay raised four children in a loving family. When the children were older, they moved to Sandusky and then to Huron, Ohio. 

Dorothy was a happy homemaker, but also held jobs at Soreng Manufacturing, A & P, Cafeteria & Playground Aide for Fremont City Schools, Strickfadens, along with many other jobs outside the home over the years.

Her farm roots were the source of her pride and joy often reflected in her good-old-fashioned farm cooking. She was sharp as a tack, full of spirit and made friends with everyone she met. She enjoyed golfing, gardening, sewing and crocheting, cooking and baking (as seen in her dozens of recipe books), laughing and living by the lake in Huron.

Dorothy is survived by her children, Connie Connors (Larry Provost), Shoreham, VT, Teresa (Tommy) Hemenway, Stratham, NH, Jeffery (Carol) Foss, Boise, ID, Joel (Karen) Foss, Sandusky, OH; ten grandchildren who affectionally called her ‘Nanny’, eleven great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband; sisters, Viola Schlea, Lula Ward, Marguerite Aldrich, Martha Shull, Clara Ellen Toth Jenck and Florence Shively; brothers Harold VanNess, Paul VanNess, Charles VanNess, Dale VanNess, Jesse VanNess and Claude VanNess.

A private Memorial Service will take place in the fall. Burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery beside her beloved husband, Jay.