Dorothy A. Carden
Shelby

Saying good-bye, even if it is temporary is the most difficult moment for me to imagine. Today I need to tell you that Dorothy Alieen Carden from Shelby, Alabama left this life to be with Family in Heaven on March 7, 2018.

She was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer in January 2017. Treatments was something that her body was not able to tolerate well, and after enduring one dose of traditional chemotherapy, she decided to enjoy the days she had left, without the added sickness that treatments would bring into her already shortened life. She gently transitioned into the next life while living in Grant, Alabama, under the loving care of Shepherd’s Cove Hospice family, with her favorite people by her side singing and praying her through the doors of heaven.

My mom was born on May 6, 1947, she has truly left her mark on this earth; her inner soul matched the person we knew, and her beauty and kindness was captivating. Her friendship was prided with loyalty, and her heart was drawn to helping those who seemed to be down in life, and honestly she was the best secret-keeper a person could confide in. She said to me a few years ago, after she gave her life to Jesus, “we can’t judge anyone because we don’t know where they are with God”. That was a powerful statement from a person overly excited and innocently told me that Jesus got baptized (3 times) after reading the gospels – her and I got a laugh after I explained it was the same story told by different people. She was so much fun to be around, her spirit was gentle and she was loved deeply by anyone who knew her.

Some of my most cherished memories are going to be spending lunch dates with my mom at the Olive Garden (her favorite restaurant), the un-measurable shopping hours, and holidays were a very special time for her, she loved being surrounded with her family and traditional southern meals, always doing her best to create a nice atmosphere and making everyone feel loved and welcome.

One thing I’ll miss the most is our daily conversations with my best friend and life-long cheerleader, who believed that I could do anything and continually expressed how proud she was to be my mom.

I’m not going to make a long list of people that have past on before her that she has been waiting to reunite with. Or, a list of those who will anticipate everyday of getting to see her again, mostly because I don’t want anyone to feel missed or left out but I’m sure we are huge in numbers. She has a host of friends and family that have been impacted by her presence.

I hope that you will be able to join us for a service that we will be reminiscing our memories of her great life on Saturday May 5, 2018 at Shelby Church of God at 1 p.m. My mom knew this time would be difficult. So, over the past year she has assisted me in finalizing the details of her last celebration, to be an expression of her Love for us. I hope that you can be there. Thank you so much – (Paula Porter her loving daughter and best friend)