Dottie Francine Solomon

Dottie Francine Solomon, 73, formerly of Batavia, IL., passed away surrounded by her loving family on Friday, April 16, 2021 at her home, Brookdale Senior Living, in Hoffman Estates, IL.  Dottie was born on November 13, 1947 in Taylorville, IL, the daughter of Lloyd and Erma (nee. Gill) Solomon. 

Words from Dottie’s daughter, Vanessa:

“My mom’s two most important roles in her life were those of mother and teacher, which often overlapped. After receiving her bachelor's degree in Music Education from Illinois State University in 1969, she spent her entire teaching career in Batavia. For over 30 years, she filled many roles for the music department of the Batavia Public Schools, including choir, orchestra, and general music. The six years she spent teaching general music at the McWayne 6th Grade Center were a highlight of my mom’s career. I still have fantastic memories of sitting in the audience for the McWayne concerts, where my mom would at times conduct several hundred students at once to great success. In beginning my own career as a music teacher, I would look back in awe at the feats she accomplished with her students’ fantastic choral sound. She completed her masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction from National Louis University in 1992 and continued to teach at Rotolo Middle School until her retirement in 2005.

My mom was my first and most profound teacher, as a person, a musician, and in the music teacher that I have become. She was never officially my piano teacher, but unofficially she taught me everything I know about how to practice and how to take apart a piece of music. She taught me what it means to be a good music teacher, meaning that music is an aesthetic experience that has value in and of itself. 

Our house was constantly filled with the sound of her singing and playing piano as I grew up, from the songs of childhood that I danced to as a preschooler, to the beautiful hymns and the brilliant catalogue of the Great American Songbook. She would always be the first one to list ten other pianists who were better than her if you tried to tell her how good she was, but if I live to be 100 I will never be able to match her touch or her style. In the last ten years, my mom brought back many of the childhood favorites for my child, Sabrina. When Sabrina was old enough to take piano lessons, Sabrina and Nana were able to play duets together. I will always be grateful that I had my mother to guide me in the first ten years of learning to be a mother to my own child. I know that she will continue to guide me in my heart for the rest of my life.”

Dottie is survived by her loving daughter; Vanessa (Spencer) Lent; one grandchild, Sabrina Lent; her two sisters, Diane Solomon and Carol (Perry) Bentsen; her three nieces, Abby Bentsen, Sarah (William) Glovinsky and Laura Bentsen; her great-niece Noelle Glovinsky.

She was preceded by her parents.

Memorial visitation will be held from 12:00 P.M. until 2:00 P.M. on Friday, April 23, 2021 at Moss Family Funeral Home, 209 S. Batavia Ave. Batavia, IL. 60510.  A memorial service will follow at 2:00 P.M. also at the funeral Home.  Interment will be held at St. Mark Episcopal Church at a later date.  In lieu of flowers memorial donations in Dottie’s name may be made to St. Mark’s Episcopal Church or Batavia Music Buffs, bataviamusicbuffs.org.