Dolores A. Carrico, 86, Wyoming

 Dolores
A. Carrico,
86, former
Kasson
resident
passed away
peacefully
in the loving
arms of her
family on Tuesday, March 8 at
Meadows on Fairview, Wyoming,
Minnesota where she was
a resident for over seven years.
Dolores was born December
6, 1929 in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
She grew up in Rochester and
Kasson with her identical twin
sister Diane and graduated from
Kasson High School. She married
John Little, also of Kasson,
in 1948. During their 32 marriage
they lived in Minneapolis,
St. Louis Park, Owatonna, and
Minnetonka.
During that time she was part
of the fi rst group of respiratory
 therapists at Methodist Hospital
in St. Louis Park. She also
worked at Sears in Minnetonka
7-Hi shopping center, and
Schmelz Brothers Volkswagen.
In 1970 Dolores started
attending college at Metropolitan
Community and Augsburg
Colleges. She eventually earned
her bachelor’s degree, masters
of social work and RN degrees.
Dolores worked as a respiratory
therapist at Abbott-Northwestern
Hospital in Minneapolis and
as a registered nurse at St. Paul
Ramsey Hospital (now named
Regions Hospital) in addition to
other hospitals.
In the early to mid-1970s, she
cared for her beloved grandmother
Mae at home until she
needed more care than Dolores
could provide. Mae passed in
1975, just before her 100th
birthday.
During the 1970s, in addition
to her other careers, Dolores
worked at the well-known
Charlie’s Café Exceptionale in
Minneapolis and made many
good friends there.
In the 1980s, Dolores worked
as a nurse at VA hospital in
California and met her second
husband Patrick Carrico as a
patient there. They married and
maintained homes in Minneapolis
and Stockton, CA. They
enjoyed being with relatives
in both locations and enjoyed
vacationing in Hawaii. Patrick
contracted cancer in the mid-
1990s and Dolores cared for
him at home until he passed in
1996.
Dolores returned to Kasson
and cared for her mother Dorothy
through her journey at home
until she passed in 1999.
Her identical twin sister, Diane,
donated a kidney to her.
As her last career, she founded
Dodge County Pet Rescue
and placed hundreds of dogs
and cats in their forever homes.
Dolores never said “no” to
any person or any animal that
needed her help.
The family wishes to thank
the staff at Meadows on Fairview
for their loving care of
Dolores for over seven years,
Fairview Lakes HomeCaring
and Hospice for all their support
during her 15 month journey,
and all the therapy dogs and
handlers that brought joy to her.
Dolores was preceded in
death by stillborn daughter
Deborah Ann, husband Patrick,
parents Harold and Dorothy
Sheppard, and special grandmother
Mae Hemingway.
Survived by son Tom (Nancy)
Little, sister Diane Lehman,
nephews Bruce Himle and Forrest
(Jenny) Lehman, and great
nephews Quentin, Riley and
Jacob Lehman.
Donations are suggested to
the pet rescue organization of
your choice.
There will be an informal
memorial gathering of friends
and family on Saturday, March
26, 1– 3 p.m. at St. Peter’s
Episcopal Church, 101 First St
NE, Kasson following a private
graveside service at Maple
Grove Cemetery.
Coffee and refreshments will
be served.
Please join us and share
memories of Dolores.
Dibble Funeral Home and
Cremation Service is in charge
of arrangements.
Online condolences may be
shared at www.dibblefuneralhome.
com.