Dorothy Dale

Dorothy A. Dale, 79, of Lynnfield died on Friday, November 27 at the Sawtelle Family Hospice House in Reading after a lengthy illness, during which she several times surprised her doctors by outliving her expectations.

Dorothy was born in 1930 in London, England where she resided until moving to Massachusetts with her husband Brian in 1959 eventually settling in Lynnfield in 1966 where she lived with her family for 43 years.

Dorothy had many interests and hobbies. She was a talented cook and enjoyed entertaining friends and relatives. She was an avid gardener and a member of Lynnfield's Flower Workshop Garden Club. She enjoyed knitting, needlecraft, and sewing; and was very accomplished in all of these crafts often knitting beautiful sweaters and making her own home furnishings. Dorothy enjoyed the theater and was a regular attendee of the Boston Symphony Orchestra for many years. Dorothy and Brian loved to travel, and have taken trips to places all over the world including Israel, Australia, New Zealand, Bermuda, Hawaii, Canada and much of Europe. She enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren.

Dorothy was a very active member of Emmanuel Episcopal Church of Wakefield where she worshiped for more than 50 years. Over the years she served faithfully in many roles in the Church. She served on Vestry as Treasurer of the Church, and as President and Treasurer of the Canterbury Children's Center Board of Directors. She was an active member of the Altar Guild, Women's Guild, Mission Commission, and Pastoral Care Committee. For many years she co-managed the Church's Nearly New Thrift shop and served as one of the Church's dedicated "counter" arriving every Monday morning to count and deposit the Sunday morning offerings.

Dorothy was the beloved wife of 54 years to Brian Dale, devoted mother of Jeremy of Gilford, New Hampshire, Kathryn (Adams) and her husband Neil of Reading and Laurel of Holden and loving grandmother of Emily, Nicholas and Marissa. She is also survived by her sister Pat in Hampshire, England, Brother Ray and his wife Jan of Sussex, England, brother John and his wife Sigrid of Calgary in Alberta, Canada, and brother Dennis and his wife Milly of New Plymouth, New Zealand.

Despite having such a widespread family, the miracle of modern telecommunications allowed Dorothy to contact any of them within a few seconds, providing she remember the time difference which would be as much as 17 hours. By contrast, upon arriving in the USA in 1959, a simple phone call to any of her relatives could take most of a day.

Her funeral service will be held in the Emmanuel Episcopal Church, corner of Main & Bryant Sts. Wakefield on Thursday at 11 a.m. Relatives and friends may call at the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Ave., Wakefield on Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Red Cross of Massachusetts Bay, 139 Main St., Cambridge, MA 02142.



Read Dorothy Dale's Obituary and Guestbook on www.mcdonaldfs.com.

Visitation

McDonald Funeral Home
19 Yale Ave.
Wakefield , MA US 01880
Wednesday, December 2, 2009, 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Service

Emmanuel Episcopal Church
5 Bryant Street
Wakefield , MA US 01880
Thursday, December 3, 2009, 11:00 AM

Cemetery

Lakeside Cemetery
Corner of North Ave. & Beacon St.
Wakefield , MA US 01880
Thursday, December 3, 2009, 12:30 PM