Obituary of Dorothy Rollins Brownell

Dorothy (Rollins) Brownell was born August 3, 1962 in Jersey City, New Jersey, to Dallas and Dorothy Rollins. She was the tenth of thirteen children.  She always missed Jersey but moved on to raise four children in Syracuse New York.

Dorothy was known to everyone as DeeDee, even her grandchildren lovingly referred to her as such.  Family was the focus of DeeDee's life, the family she was born into and the family she gathered.  She loved to throw big barbecues and gather family together.  She would spend many hours in conference calls with her beloved sisters.  I would hear her chattering away and knew a variety of my aunts faces would be on the screen.  She loved spending time with her grandkids, she was so proud of all of them and took many pictures to remember their triumphs and milestones. DeeDee liked taking pictures of everyone, we nicknamed her paparazzi.  We are now eternally grateful for these memories with her.  She lived a simple life and had a beautiful, generous soul.  She had little but would give her last to someone in need.  She had a soft spot for animals, of all types, and was always surrounded by her loved pets.  She loved all things spooky, always had a ghost show on in the back round.  She recently found Temu and would get frequent deliveries of "treasures" that she would distribute to family.  

She is predeceased by her parents, Dallas and Dorothy Rollins,her siblings, Janice DeBlasio, Dallas Rollins and Rose Olivier and her long term friend, Jodeen Hinman.  Survived by her four children, Brandy (Brownell) St.Clair and Michael, Jet (Zaccheus) Houde and David, Jose Zaccheus and Sydney, and Jesse Zaccheus and Randie, her fiancé, Jim Kessler, fifteen grandchildren, Mason Tourtellotte, Bryce St.Clair, Ashton St.Clair, Jaxson St.Clair, Ella St. Clair, Summer (Houde) Sanchez, Auston Houde, Andrea Houde, Halo Seigle, Alayla Zaccheus, Theodin Zaccheus, Ares Zaccheus, Damen Seigle, Zallianna Zaccheus, and Marceline Zaccheus, two great grands, Akira Seigle and Michael Sanchez and one on the way, siblings, George Rollins, Diane Espinoza, Linda Oliveras, Betty Rollins, Margaret Baez Rollins, Donna Rollins, Lisa Rollins, Lori Rollins, and Ronald Rollins and so many beloved nieces, nephews and cousins. 

Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, May 28, 2024 from 4-6pm at the Edward J. Ryan & Son Funeral Home, 3180 Bellevue Ave. Syracuse, NY 13219. A service will be held at 6pm at the funeral home.