Miss Deirdre Lynnette Ambrose

This story began on March 8, 1970 in Chicgo. Illinois to the union of Dorcus LaDonna and George Ambrose Jr. They welcomed a completely bald headed baby girl and she was given the name Deirdre Lynnette. She was the baby sister to her older brother Kevin, and late became a big sister to her baby brother, Tracey. Growing up on the south side of Chicago Deirdre attended a private school for kindergarten, he developed an absolute love for reading. She loved telling the story of how she taught herself to read in kindergarten because she and her younger brother were in the same classroom and knowing how to read was the only way out. After learning to read, her parents transferred them to Catholic school. She scored high enough on the entrance exam that she was allowed to skip the 1st grade because she was reading at a 4th grade level. By the age of 13, she read all the “age appropriate” paperback books in the Jeffrey Manor Chicago Public Library. She went on to attend and graduate from Morgan Park High School. Deirdre prided herself with being a high school athlete, “lettering” in track and field. she loved telling stories of how she ranked 2nd place in Shot Put and 3rd place for Discus for Chicago Public School City Competition and she also went to the Illinois state Competitions for both events, as the 1st female from Morgan Park to compete on the state level for both events. Always saying “I got the ribbons and medals to prove it, don't make me get them out”. After high school, Deirdre attended Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois but returned home after less that’s two years. She began her working career for Budget Rent A Car at O’Hare Airport. She learned two important lessons, the first was the importance of knowing CTA train ad bus routes, and the other was when driving back and forth to O’Hare, never take Milwaukee Avenue.On both occasions she called in to work to tell her bosses that she had gotten misdirected on the way to work, she then had to explain details when she arrived. When listening to those stories, you began to understand how she vowed never to get “lost or misdirected” in Chicago again. In her mid 20’s Deirdre began working at the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. She was introduced to traveling as she did annually with her job. It was during this time her friend Monica Boyd introduced her to Adrienne McCullough her sister from another mother. It was through this friendship that Deirdre began fulfilling a lifelong dream, that of being a Mortician. She volunteered at Robert McCullough funeral home working with and learning from Adrienne in the evenings and on the weekends. In 1999, she was laid off from the National Council, this afforded her the opportunity to enroll in mortuary school. September 1999 she attended Worshem college of Mortuary Science in Wheeling, Illinois. In September 2000 she graduated from Worsham, passed the state boards and became a Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer. All of her professional career she worked for McCullough Funeral and Cremation Services, serving families in their time of need and loved every minute. Dee, as she later became known by most, loves telling stories, but especially how after attending Sunday school and having a typical phone conversation with Adrienne led her to asking for a bible study. While this study was starting up, Dee was challenging the publisher of a specific Sunday School Lesson. As their answers were not sufficient. Dee continued her studies of the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses. As her bible questions were answered to her satisfaction, Dee made the truth her own. She dedicated her life to Jehovah and on June 5, 2004, her dedication was symbolized through water baptism at the District Convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Dekalb, Illinois. Her love of reading continued as she was never able to read all the books in the Watchtower Library. Dee loved the field ministry and was able to assist on many bible studies. In March 2011, Dee experienced a challenge that she didnt back down from, she took it in stride. After losing compete function of her legs becoming a paraplegic, which too became a story she told, most of the time time tears, but she shared it none the less. She became home bound and unable to physically attend regular meetings, however she put great effort in preparing to be present to Assemblies, Conventions and the Memorial. Zoom was a blessing Dee could see “the friends”, comment at her meetings and go regularly in field service all from her bed. In April 2011, Dee moved in with her sister Adrienne and “Dee’s” child Jasmine. This living arrangement proved just how much of Dee’s personality Jasmine possessed, a truth Dee rarely admitted to. January 2013, Dee was able to live a more independent lifestyle when she moved away from Adrienne’s home to her own. She was active in her community and could be seen flying down the streets in her wheelchair. She enjoyed going to lunch with Adrienne and shopping on her own. All the neighbors and local shop keepers knew Ms. Dee. She lived alone for a few years before becoming a resident of a nursing home in 2017. Her smile, quick wit, and loving personality made her resident of the month at the nursing home more than once. April 16, 2023, Dee fell asleep in death. Dee looks forward to the new world (Revelation 21:3-4) no sickness and death nor mourning or tears.

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Miss Deirdre Lynnette Ambrose

March 8, 1970 - April 16, 2023