Doris "Dori" Cesario of Cedarburg entered God's kingdom peacefully, on March 21, 2024 after a courageous 2-year journey with cancer. She was surrounded at home by loved ones who will continue to honor her legacy by living their lives to the fullest. Dori was 90 years old and was a caring wife, mom, grandma, great grandma, sister, aunt, and friend to many.

Every so often, you come across a person who is extraordinary. Dori Cesario is one of them. Everyone who has met her can attest to how positively she has touched their lives. Her cheerful attitude, positive outlook, kindness, and laughter will live on in all of us. Most of all, many will remember how her smile could change the energy of an entire room. Despite the day-to-day difficulties that come with standing up to cancer, her devout faith kept her strong and allowed her to face this life challenge with peace and a sense of humor.

Her positive attitude can be beautifully demonstrated by her favorite bible verses:

2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Ecclesiastes 3:1: To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.

Her joy in life was with the Lord and the blessings He had bestowed upon her: love of family, joy of grandchildren & great grandchildren, and her enduring love for her "Mr. Fix-It" husband, Al.

Dori was born December 10, 1933 in Racine, WI to Raymond and Edith Krogh.

While attending UW-Madison, Dori met Al Cesario, the love of her life, the man who would stand by her side through life's ups and downs. In college, she was in the kick line and he was in the band…a match made in heaven. They married on August 24, 1957. Initially living in Madison, they next moved to Milwaukee, and eventually settled in Cedarburg in 1972.

Dori worked in accounting at New York Life Insurance and was the Assistant Director at the Cedarburg Senior Center. She was a member of First Immanuel Lutheran Church in Cedarburg since 1972, where she also served as a member of the Lutheran Women's Missionary League. Dori participated in bible study groups, was on the funeral and visiting committees, and volunteered at Lasata Nursing Home.

Her most rewarding job was, together with Al, raising three children in a loving home and providing them with positive lifelong values and treasured childhood memories. Her 66 years of marriage to Al was filled with cherished friends, yearly trips to Door County, Packer parties, and amazing family gatherings (especially Christmas where she would hide the pickle in the Christmas tree for all to find, coordinate the "funny gift" tradition, and initiate ping-pong tournaments). We will all carry on her tradition of cooking home-made spaghetti sauce all day long with the secret Italian family recipe.

Dori's interests included playing USTA tennis, painting, walking, pickleball, reading, canning strawberries, cross country skiing, and golf. Dori played tennis for the Senior Olympics and league tennis until she was 87 years old! Her tennis "pals" brought her great joy throughout life. She was a talented artist and has blessed her family with exquisite painted rocks that she completed over the years, a labor of love.

Dori had a strong faith and always believed heaven was her ultimate home. An accomplishment that she was proud of was that she read the entire bible in 3 years. It brought her peace to spend every morning completing bible study and journaling about her faith. She also spent every evening in prayer with the Lord.

Dori is survived by her loving husband Al; their children Brad (Esther) Cesario of Glenview, Il; Brian (Sally) Cesario of Germantown, WI; Barb (Greg Galecki) Cesario of Lake Mills, WI. Nothing brought Dori more joy than her 6 grandchildren: Austyn (Jon) Franklin; Haley (Kevin Rilea) Potterton; Nicole (Ingrid) Kapbardhi, Tony Cesario, Ben Cesario, and Jon Cesario…they will all be better people because of their "Grams". Dori was also blessed to welcome 3 great grandchildren into the world: Cooper, Mayve, and Octavia.

Dori was preceded in death by her parents Raymond and Edith Krogh, brother Richard Krogh, nieces Sharyl (Krogh) Davis and Laura (Krogh) Littel, in-laws Mary and Joseph Cesario, sister-in-laws Pat Cesario and Edith Wolkomir, brother-in laws Gene Cesario and Jake Wolkomir.

A special acknowledgement goes out to Horizon Hospice Staff for helping Dori and her family walk this journey together with dignity while celebrating a life well lived.

Although her body has passed on, Dori Cesario does not end here…her energy and spirit lives on in all of us that she touched: her smile, her sparkling eyes, her faith, her sense of humor…we are all honored to hold her in our hearts and carry on her amazing attributes.

In the words of Winnie-the-Pooh: "How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard."

Visitation will be held at First Immanuel Lutheran Church, W67N622 Evergreen Blvd, Cedarburg, WI 53012 on April 6, 2024 from 10:00am-12:00pm with a funeral service immediately following at 12:00pm.

Dori will be laid to rest at Zur Rue Cemetery.