Dorothy Miles, 92, died Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018 at her home in Sacramento at Atria Assisted Living after a long illness. She was surrounded by her family and her dedicated caregiver, Kesaia Enikosuna.
Dorothy was born in Dunn County, North Dakota on July 15, 1926, to Martin Kolodejchuk and Anna Adamski Kolodejchuk, the 7th of their 11 children. She grew up on the family farm and attended the local Elementary School, graduating the 8th grade. At the age of 18, she married Frank Briltz, and together they raised three children: Kenneth, Allen, and Shaundra (Doreen).
When Kenneth was only weeks old, they left North Dakota and moved to Washington state for a short time, before relocating to California, where she lived out her life, first in Petaluma (1946-1953), then Fairfield/Vacaville (1953-2014) and finally Sacramento (2014-2018). Dorothy was a stay-at-home mom in the early years and enjoyed sewing, cooking, entertaining and playing cards. For many years she was an active member of the Young Ladies Institute at Holy Spirit Catholic Church.
While her children were growing up, she worked for Pinkerton Hardware and JC Penney. After moving to Vacaville, Dorothy worked for a department store. Later, she obtained a real estate license and sold new homes in Rancho Solano in Fairfield and other areas in the Bay area, winning the award for the “Highest Sales Volume” one year.
She enjoyed walking, social activities, and attended many dances at the Moose Club in Vacaville and the Elks Club in Vallejo. After retiring, she loved to stay busy and was a constant volunteer including: the Leisure Town Homeowners Association, the Food Bank, the Vacaville North Bay Hospital Guild gift store and the Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre. Dorothy is survived by her children: Shaundra Cashdollar of Fair Oaks, Kenneth Briltz (wife Diane) of Fairfield, and Allen Briltz of Contra Costa County, grandchildren: Jeff Briltz (wife Karen) and Angela Baker (husband Brad), five great grandchildren: Victoria, Jarred and Eric Briltz and Trent and Paige Baker, sister, Marge Novatny of Bismarck, ND, brother Robert Kolodejchuk of Chaska, MN, and dozens of nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her brothers and sisters: Emma Grant, Marion Filkowski, Pauline Hudson, Caroline Bren, Helen Kubas, Victor Kolodejchuk, Izzy Kolodejchuk, and Edward Kolodejchuk. The family would be grateful for any donations made in her memory to the Salvation Army (specify for Paradise Camp Fire Aid), PO Box 348000, Sacramento, California 95834. Arrangements are directed by Sierra View Funeral Home in Carmichael.
A private family celebration of life has been scheduled for December 22nd in her honor. Please feel free to sign or share a memory on her guestbook, which you will find by selecting the tab under her photo.
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