Dorothea (Coates) Henneberg, 87, passed away on Saturday, November 26, 2017 following a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Dot was the daughter of the late R. Wylie Coates and the late Sadie Thompson and the youngest of five siblings. She is survived by her daughter Kristina (Henneberg) Kochanowski and her husband Brian of Norfolk, her son Kurt Henneberg of Milford, her sister Jacqueline Myles of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, and her grandchildren Kayla Sadie Manning of Medway and Annaliese Henneberg of Pepperell. She was the loving mother of the late Karen (Henneberg) Manning, who died one-year-ago on this same day.
Dot moved to the United States in the 1950’s to pursue a career in nursing, which ideally suited her patient, compassionate and loving nature. She met her husband of 31 years, the late Helmut H. Henneberg of Germany, while at a dance on Newbury Street in Boston. After getting married and having three children, the two settled in Canton, Massachusetts, where Dot worked as a nurse at the Hellenic Nursing Home for over 25 years.
Despite working full-time, Dot always put her home and family first. Homegrown and homecooked was her way of living. Every fall, Dot and the children would fill barrels with apples picked from one of the trees in their backyard. Her homemade apple pies, grape jelly, and stewed tomatoes were prize commodities in the Henneberg household. Dot also shared in her family’s love of nature. On the weekends, Dot could be found hiking in the Blue Hills, often picking wild blueberries, or walking around Ponkapoag Pond with her kids in tow.
Dot loved to ballroom dance and sing. On any given Sunday, she would belt out hymnals at St. James Lutheran Church, where she was a member nearly all her life. Her favorite go-to-tune was the wartime classic “The White Cliffs of Dover.” Dot could be often be heard singing around the house, “There'll be bluebirds over, the white cliffs of Dover, tomorrow, just you wait and see.”
Despite suffering from advanced dementia that left once familiar faces unrecognizable and daily tasks seemingly impossible, Dot began each day with a positive attitude. While those who loved her may never know what dementia took away from her, but we will always remember what Dot gave us. Dot will be forever remembered for her vibrant smile, sympathetic ear, optimism, zest for life, and her willingness to help and show compassion to others in need.
Private burial services will be held on Monday, December 4, 2017, at Knollwood Memorial Park in Canton.
Memorial donations may be made in Dot’s honor to the Kayla Sadie Manning Education Fund, c/o Charles River Bank, 70 Main St., Medway, MA 02053.
Arrangements are under the care of the Ginley Funeral Home of Franklin (www.ginleyfuneralhomes.com)