Doretha "Sissy" Hess

Doretha “Sissy” Hess, 65, of Topeka, KS, passed away Sunday, March 29, 2026.

Sissy was born January 22, 1961, in Topeka at the United States Air Force Hospital which was then located at Forbes Air Force Base. She is the daughter of the late William T Hess and Cenia M (McGuire) Hess of Virginia (2009). William T Hess was a USAF serviceman. Sissy had three siblings. She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings. She is survived by her guardian Janet Blue-Brecheisen.

Doretha never married. She enjoyed life, living carefree and unencumbered by traditional expectations. Even though she did not have close family she belonged to a much larger “family” of individuals with the same passion and ambition to live their lives to the fullest of their capabilities. Sissy’s passions included sitting outside people watching, feeling the warm sun on her face, playing in the water, playing her organ at home, her keyboard at day services and indulging on sweets (whether they belonged to her or not). She loved listening to all genres of music but would get most excited listening to gospel hymns and classic rock-n-roll. Some of her favorites were Stephenwolf, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and even Fleetwood Mac. She would always clap her hands and sway back and forth to the beat. She didn’t have much rhythm but never truly cared. She danced like no one was watching and sang like no one was there all the time. She enjoyed the simpler things in life that we all sometimes take for granted.

She joined her TARC “family” in 1996 where she spent her days completing art projects, playing her electric keyboard, sunbathing, and experiencing the community around her with wide eyes and anticipation of each new adventures. She developed long-standing relationships with many individuals within the agency that considered her to be like family. Shortly thereafter she added to her extended friends and family in 1998 by moving into SLI formerly known as Sheltered Living Inc. When at home, she enjoyed going out to eat, going to the lake, taking walks around the neighborhood, and teasing her housemates. She was a member of both until her passing. She will be dearly missed.

Her guardian requests in lieu of flowers, that any memorial contributions may be in Doretha’s name to TARC or SLI.

Doretha was cremated. A memorial ceremony will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at Dove Cremations & Funerals Southwest Chapel, 3700 SW Wanamaker Road, Topeka, Kansas, 66610. Private interment of the cremated remains will be at Memorial Park Cemetery in Topeka, Kansas, at a later date.