Doris Jane Caruso

“It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.” Saint Francis of Assisi

Doris was born March 30, 1928 in Oak Park, Illinois to parents T. Marjorie Van Mater Dix and George Dix. She was baptized that year by the Reverend Polk at Saint Barnabas, Episcopal Church.

Three sisters preceded her in death: Joanne, Marilyn (Anne) and Dorothy,

Doris was educated in Chicago, IL where at Gage Park High School she met Adolph William Caruso (1925-2000) She wrote to him every day of his service in WWII while he was flying missions, first in England (8th) and later in Italy (15th). During this worrisome time, she continued her studies, serving as class poet. She suffered three terrible losses, two cousins born the same month, Van Van Mater and William Campbell, died the same month, Van in the submarine the Herring and Billy on D-Day, and Adolph’s best friend, Frank Mueller, died as a B-17 ball turret gunner in the Army Air-corps. These losses affected her deeply and informed her sorrow over wars all her life.

One of her happiest days was Adolph’s return to Chicago on July 4, 1945 after the allied victory against fascism in Europe, followed by their wedding on July 14 at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church. Since the war in the Pacific continued, and her now husband remained enlisted, she joined him in Tampa, Florida where he was based. After the end of the war in 1945 and his discharge, they returned to Chicago where, because of the housing shortage, they lived in remade army barracks while Adolph worked for Eastman Kodak. He built a house for them and they moved to Berrien County Michigan near his parents. After commutes to Chicago for his work, they operated photographic studios until 1974. They then moved to Brigand’s Bay on Hatteras Island, NC. There, in Frisco, Doris had a bakery, called The Gingerbread House until 1989.

When Adolph died in 2000, she returned from Graham, where they had lived temporarily while he received treatment at Duke Medical Center, to their home on the Outer Banks. After selling their property, she returned to live in a condominium in Burlington, near family, where she made many friends through work, volunteering for Hospice, doing church work at Blessed Sacrament, Catholic Church and especially through her membership in the Burlington Writer’s Club, which she served as president for two years. During this time, Doris published six books of poetry, fiction and memoir. She was deeply loved by her family, fellow writers, especially Story Sisters, and friends, maintaining associations back to kindergarten days with classmates into her nineties.

Children: Laura Jane Caruso-Kofoid (Eric) of Woodland, CA, Carlos William Caruso (Cindy) of Graham, NC, and Janet (Jeannette) Cwiak (Aloysius) of Manitowoc, WI, who preceded her in death May, 2025. Grandchildren: Carlo Caruso (CarrieAnne), Adrienne Cwiak(Jane), Timothy Grannan (Kristin), Mario Caruso (Monika), Lydia Brouwer (Jamal), and Alicindra Broughton (Steven), and Aelric Kofoid. Great grandchildren: Adela Marie Broughton, Nina Sorio Caruso, Hannah Marie Brooks (Logan), Lincoln Brouwer, Sabine Spinnelli Caruso, and and Simone Spinnelli Caruso. Great great grandchild: Bodie Brooks, born on Doris’ birthdate, March 30. Gratitude to her friend Daphne Barnes, more than an angel.

She touched many lives and had the persistence of a Chicago Cubs fan, a loyalty she bequeathed to all of the family. Opening Day was marked on her calendar.

Her ashes will be interred with her husband’s on March 30 at Pine Hill Cemetery. A mass of Christian Burial is planned for April 19 at Blessed Sacrament. Family will have a grave side memorial at a later date when they can gather together to give thanks for her many gifts.

Pictured: Doris Jane Dix & Adolph William Caruso, two gifted high school students who found each other, he a photographer, she, a poet. He died in March of 2000 and she, March 18, 2026. The following poem "The Flight" by Sara Teasdale was the source of the inscription on their bedroom door knocker, "like eagles", which I post today to announce her departure.

The Flight

Sara Teasdale

We are two eagles/Flying together, /Under the heavens/Over the mountains/Stretched on the wind./ Sunlight heartens us,/Blind snow baffles us,/Clouds wheel over us/ Raveled and thinned./ We are like eagles;/But when Death harries us, l Human and humbled,/When one of us goes, / Let the other follow-/Let the flight be ended, /Let the fire blacken./ Let the book close.