Dolores M. Brown, age 67, of Merrillville, IN, passed on to be with the Lord on Sunday, March 13, 2016, after courageously battling a recent illness.

Dolores was first and foremost a Christian. She was a devoted mother to five biological children, two adopted children, eleven grandchildren and over seventy foster children.

Dolores was born the sixth of eight children to David & Mary (Berry) Roberts in Englewood, NJ, on September 21, 1948. Dolores spent her developmental years between Boston, Minnesota, and Chicago. She then settled in Gary, IN where she attended Lake Ridge School Corporation and was a graduate of Calumet High School. It was at Calumet High School where she would meet Robert “Bobby” Brown, whom she married and would have two children (Annette & Robert “Bobby”, Jr.) with. Following her spiritual devotion, Dolores was inspired to relocate to Israel in 1975, where she would meet and marry her second husband, Nathan Sampson and have three more children (Yoledyah, Shaleak and David). Dolores longed for home, though, and returned to the United States in 1983 to Indiana, where she would enroll at Indiana University Northwest. While taking classes, she began a career at Purdue Calumet Extension Services where she educated low income families on nutrition and healthy living.

Always an advocate of religion and education, she ensured that her children kept a strong relationship with God and insisted that all five would become educated. Her oldest daughter, Annette, would lead the way and enroll in Indiana State University. She would go on to receive her Masters Degree from Indiana University Northwest. Following Annette’s lead, Bobby attended Indiana State University where he also became a commissioned officer in the US Army. He would go on to earn a Masters Degree and retire as a Major. Yoledyah followed her older two siblings and attend IUPUI to pursue her passion into nursing. Shaleak continued the education pursuit and enrolled at IUPUI earning his Masters Degree. He went on to attend Howard University, College of Medicine receiving his Doctorate in Medicine and becoming a Pediatrician. Not to be outdone, the youngest child, David, decided he too would join the ranks and enroll at Valparaiso University earning his BSN. Needless to say, judging by their accomplishments, Dolores’ hard work as a single parent speaks for itself.

She went on to work for KKISS (Keeping Kids in Safe Surroundings) as a Parent Educator which educated families involved with the Child Protective Agency. She retired from the same agency, which at the time of her retirement, was called Family Focus Inc. After retiring, Dolores would become inspired through her work with children to venture into becoming a foster parent. Over the next sixteen years, Dolores would open her home to more than seventy foster children and thoroughly enjoyed serving in this way to both children and the community.

A woman of exemplary character and values, Dolores imparted a helping hand to all that she met. A woman of earnest distinction, Dolores was comfortable in any surrounding and always commanded respect. Never one to bite or hold her tongue, she always expressed her opinion and her blatant honesty in openness, and never disappointed if you were in need of a hardy laugh. Her kindness was immeasurable, she literately would open her home to anyone in need. Her spirit of giving will always be remembered.

Dolores is proceeded in death by her parents, (David & Mary Roberts); sister (Marlene) and brother (Warren).

Dolores is survived by her five siblings: Connie, David, Frank (Marie), Maxine and Adam; five children: Annette (Erick), Robert Jr. (Shantel), Yoledyah, Shaleak (Monique) and David (Kimberly); two adopted children: Ronald and Daniel; eleven grandchildren: Amber, Robert III, Dalas, Joshua, David Jr., Denise, John Jr., Maliyah, Brianna, Aniyah and Braylon; nephews: Anthony, Chris, Jonathan (Nichole) and Mathew; nieces: Maria, Rebecca, Yannah, and Yoninah; and special family friends: Rolonda Gardner, Mary Summers, Jerome Coley, Lydia Ellison and Sharon Jones and a host of others.

Family and friends may call at Pruzin Brothers Funeral Service, 6360 Broadway, Merrillville on Friday, March 18, 2016 from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. Funeral service will be Saturday, March 19, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. DIRECTLY from Bethel Church, 10202 Broadway, Crown Point, with Pastor Gary Butler officiating. At rest Calumet Park Cemetery.