Dorothy B. Church, 93, died peacefully at Cove’s Edge in the early morning of May 16. Dot was born Nov. 27, 1924 in Hartford, Conn., the daughter of Author Hill Brooks and Martha (Youngerman) Brooks.
Dot grew up in Short Hills, N.J. and Newton, Mass. On June 8, 1946, after receiving her degree from Bridgewater State Teachers College, Mass., she married Richard A. Church, a boy she had known since the age of 13. They raised three children and enjoyed 64 years of marriage until Dick’s death in July 2010.
Having lived in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Florida, Virginia, and Maine, Dot made friends easily and maintained contact with many. She cherished her lifelong friends with whom she shared laughter, good times, cross-country trips and travel abroad. She took pride in her doll house, a labor of love personalized to reflect her life’s memories. She enjoyed bridge and knitting but loved most her summers spent in South Bristol at her Boathouse. Not missing a summer in 81 years, she enjoyed family, entertaining, looking out at the water, having drinks on the deck and challenging her grandchildren to a game of Hand and Foot. She was grateful for a full life and will be dearly missed by her family.
Dot was predeceased by her husband, Richard A. Church; and eldest son, Arthur Brooks Church.
She is survived by daughter, Betsy Moorhouse and husband Hank of Newcastle; son, Richard Church Jr. and wife Marilyn of Medfield, Mass.; daughter-in law, Diane Church of Goshen; grandchildren, Amy, Brooks, Beth, Matthew, Lyndsay, and Alex; and great-grandchildren, Jillian, Jayce, Jack and Abigail.
A celebration of life gathering will be held at 1 p.m., Sat., Aug. 11 at the summer home in South Bristol.
