Dorene Waite

E. Dorene Waite was a woman cut of the warmest, kindest cloth, who always volunteered her time, her effort and her love. She was perfectly happy spending time with her loved ones and didnt need thousands of flashy distractions in her life. Dorene was a loving, devoted woman who made everyone feel special when she was near. The Roaring Twenties was a fantastic period in our nations history, when the sounds of progress could be heard in every village and city across America. It was the birthplace of jazz, the golden age of industry and above all, a time of plenty. Dorene entered this bustling world on November 24, 1927, in the city of Muskegon, Michigan. She was the first of two children born to Roy and Ethel (Chambers) Bergman. Dorene and her younger brother, Kenny, grew up on the western end of Muskegon in the Lakeside District, a place Dorene called home for most of her life. Her father provided for their family operating a gas station on the corner of Sherman and McCracken, while her mother was a wonderful homemaker. The family often took trips to the Saugatuck/Douglas area to visit extended family. Dorene attended Bunker Elementary and Middle School and graduated from Muskegon High in 1945. With the voice of an angel, she was a great asset to her high school choir. Dorene was 20 when she married the love of her life, Robert Waite, on September 5, 1947, in Muskegon. She even recorded a record for Robert, crooning her love for him. The newlyweds made their first home together in an apartment building they owned on Harding Street in Lakeside. They later moved to Miner Street, where they would raise their four children: Sally, Gary, Debbie and Dennis. Dorene took great pride in her home, which boasted of beautiful woodwork, including a built-in china cabinet, and was furnished with many antiques when they bought it. However, Dorene wasnt fond of old stuff because it reminded her of the Depression era, so she had many of the antiques burned, which she later regretted. One old place in the house that benefited Dorene was the attic, which had bats living in it. Because of this, she knew the kids wouldnt go up there so she had the perfect hiding place for their Christmas presents. It was said that Dorene was generally not an emotional person, but one day her daughter Sally came home from school and found her mother sobbing while ironing because a character had died on her soap operas. Time together as a family was always important and Dorene and Robert took their kids every summer to a cottage they rented on Hamlin Lake outside of Ludington. They shared many wonderful memories here over the years, which Dorene treasured dearly. Once her kids were in school, Dorene went to work part-time as a waitress at Muskegon Country Club. She later took a job at Hardy Herpolsheimers Department Store, and after retiring, she enjoyed being part of the Hardy Herps Ladies Club for many years. When her kids were older, Dorene adopted a collie-beagle dog named Skippy and showered it with love and special attention, probably even more than she gave her kids. Dorene loved her family dearly, and together she and Robert enjoyed 58 wonderful years of marriage. In 1970, the couple built a cottage on Hamlin Lake (a place Dorene absolutely loved). After retiring, they made their secluded bungalow their permanent residence for 10 years, enjoying the peaceful surroundings of nature. Always adventurous, Dorene loved their family tradition of jumping in the car at dusk and roaming the back roads hunting for deer. After the fun, they would top the day off with a trip to Dairy Queen for a Buster Bar. Dorene loved this so much, she made sure to pass it on to her grandchildren so they got a chance to join in the fun. Outside of hunting, Dorene liked to play cards, particularly cribbage, and going to the casinos. Although she was plagued with Alzheimers later in life, Dorene was still able to enjoy the game and beating her grandkids a time or two. She was a big fan of the Junior Whopper at Burger King. She also satisfied her sweet tooth with some popcorn and ice cream. In her community, Dorene was a member of the Lakeside United Methodist Church and TOPS in Muskegon and Ludington. Dorene never lived outside of Lakeside, a place she created many wonderful memories in over the years. Then, much to her dismay, she went to live at Day Spring Assisted Living in Norton Shores in 2007, to get the care she needed with Alzheimers. It was here that Dorene passed away on Friday, October 8, 2010, at the age of 82. She will be greatly missed. Dorene is survived by her sons, Gary Waite of Muskegon, Dennis Waite of Battle Creek; daughters, Sally (Steve) McGlone of IL, Debbie (Gary) Mulder of Battle Creek; 6 grandchildren & 7 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert, in 2005; brother, Kenny, & daughter-in-law, Melinda Waite. A memorial gathering will take place on Tuesday, October 12, from 3:00-6:00 p.m. at Clock Life Story Funeral Home - Muskegon. Interment at Sunrise Memorial Gardens. Memorial contributions may be made to the Muskegon Rescue Mission. Please visit Dorenes personal memory page at www.clockfuneralhome.com, where you may share a memory or sign the online guest book.