Vital Information
| Field | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | Dolores Barbara Schweihs Stokes | FaG #57455711 |
| Born | 10 Oct 1914 | FaG #57455711 |
| Died | 14 Dec 2009 (aged 95) | FaG #57455711, obituary |
| Burial | St. Mary Catholic Cemetery, Evergreen Park, IL (Sec KN, Blk 16, Lot 38, Gr 6) | FaG #57455711 |
| Father | Samuel_P_Schweihs (1870-1916) | FaG #57455711 |
| Mother | Johanna Barbara Engelbrecht Schweihs (1878-1962) | FaG #57455711 |
| Spouse | David_Thomas_Stokes (1911-1997) | FaG #57455711, obituary |
| Children | Thomas David (1936-2003), Michael (m. Patricia), Gerry (m. Maggie) | FaG #57455711, obituary |
Their Story
A German-American Childhood
Dolores Barbara Schweihs was born on October 10, 1914, in Chicago. Her father, Samuel P. Schweihs, was a German immigrant who worked in the "teaming business" (horse-drawn freight hauling). Tragically, Samuel died on December 7, 1916, when Dolores was just two years old. Her mother, Johanna Barbara Engelbrecht (a Chicago native of German descent), raised Dolores and her older brother Francis on her own. The family worshipped at parishes in the South Side German Catholic community; both Samuel and Johanna are buried at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Evergreen Park, which was originally established by South Side Germans.
Marriage and Family
Dolores married David Thomas Stokes, the son of Irish immigrant Cornelius David Stokes and Anna Magdalena Noonan. Together they had three sons: Thomas David, Michael, and Gerry. The family was rooted in Chicago's South Side, attending St. Barnabas Church in the Beverly neighborhood.
David died on May 31, 1997. Dolores lived on for another twelve years, spending her final three years at Smith Village. She died on December 14, 2009, at age 95, and was buried beside David at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Evergreen Park, in the same section and lot (KN, Blk 16, Lot 38).
Her grandchildren included Tommy, Susie, Patty, Mary Carol, David, Michael, Christopher, Andrew, Brian, Chrissy, and Laurie, and she had twenty great-grandchildren.
Document Sources
| Document | Type | Vault Note |
|---|---|---|
| Find a Grave #57455711 | cemetery record | FaG memorial |
| Obituary, Chicago Tribune, Dec 17, 2009 | newspaper | Chicago Tribune |
Data Discrepancies
| Field | Source A | Source B | Resolution |
|---|---|---|---|
| maiden_name | "Schwelhs" (obituary) | "Schweihs" (FaG, parent memorials) | "Schweihs" is correct; obituary had typographical error |