On Monday, May 25, 2020, Dorothy J. DeGreeff (Bischof), “Dottie”, loving wife of 56 years, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away at the age of 78.

Dottie was preceded in death by her father, James, and her mother, Florence. She is survived by her loving husband Ronald; her four children, Matthew (Joyce), Joseph, Michael (Steffani), Jeanne (Nathan) Smith; her 13 grandchildren, Gesa (Becca), Zachary, Becca, Jeremiah, Nicholas, Fred, Benjamin, Lucas, Alexander, Jaelyn, Jacob, Juliana, and Isaac; her great-grandchild, Blase; her siblings, Virginia, Jim (Peggy), and Gene (Sandy, deceased); sister-in-law to Bob (Ida), Mary Ellen (Greg) Mueller, Dorothy (Tom) Wagner, Therese (Dave) Sartori, Tom, Ed (Nancy), the late Al (Carolyn), and the late Francis, along with abundance of nieces and nephews.

Dottie was born in Saint Louis, MO to James and Florence (Stone) Bischof. She received her BSN Cum Laude from Saint Louis University in 1984 and was admitted to Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society. While earning her degree, she was an active group leader for the La Leche League. She worked as a telemetry nurse at Mercy Hospital (STL) for over 20 years. Dottie is well known for her love of family, kind nature, generous spirit, love of books, baking with grandchildren, watching basketball, and saying the rosary, as she even kept strangers in her prayers. When Dottie worked with cardiac patients at Mercy, she established the Heart Pillows program, and she led a team of volunteers who created hand-made pillows to give their patients comfort as they recovered from surgery. For her efforts, she was recognized by the hospital for her leadership and personal initiative.

Dottie loved all the people in her life, but her doctors and nurses would tell you she loved her husband, children, grandchildren, and great-grandson more than anything. Through her treatments and appointments, she could not refrain from talking about how proud she was of her offspring’s accomplishments. With a twinkle in her eye, she made sure that her nurses were current on her grandchildren’s lives, and more importantly, when they would be gathering with her to celebrate holidays and birthdays. Being with her beloved family meant everything to her.

Dottie and her family will always be thankful for the support and dedication from the nurses and doctors from Mercy Hospital Saint Louis and SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital. Dr. Sagun Goyal, Dr. Bruce Lippmann, Dr. John Finnie, Dr. Jason Hand, and Dr. Anthony Sonn were some her favorite specialists/doctors that she saw over the past 6 years, and she enjoyed her time with them. Dottie loved chatting with the young nurses that took care of her in dialysis, chemotherapy, and transfusions. She was so proud to be treated by such professional, caring, upbeat, and determined professionals.

Memorial Mass planned at St. Mary Magdalen at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in memory of Dorothy Jane DeGreeff to the Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing at Saint Louis University Scholarship Fund, 3525 Caroline Mall, St. Louis, MO 63104 or giving.slu.edu/nursing