Dorothy Rose Pritchard (nee O’Toole)
Dorothy was a “late in life” baby, born into a quintessential Irish Catholic family. Baptized at Saint Theresa’s, her parents Michael and Hannah O’Toole named her Dorothy, as it means “Gift of God”. It proved to be a fitting name; her devotion to her parents and her faith remained constants throughout her lifetime.
Family life at 470 LaGrange Street with her parents and siblings, Ann, Doll and Buddy, was perfectly imperfect, and the source of many fond memories and hilarious stories. She delighted in her various roles as protagonist, willing participant and innocent observer. She was fiercely proud of her upbringing and drew both strength and solace from it, as she navigated life’s challenges. In the final chapter of her life, she longed to return home to 470.
As her story unfolded, she married (at Saint Theresa’s), became a mother and homemaker, and then worked outside of her home in several different capacities. In each role, she tried her very best. She embraced motherhood and to the end, she dearly loved her children. They will remain her legacy.
Her sons and their families added new dimensions to her life as she grew older. An avid hiker, son Robert was her adventurer and fellow animal lover. She reveled in his stories about his ambitious months-long hikes in the wilderness and his beautiful Samoyed dogs. He also gifted her with a wonderful daughter-in-law, Anna and her grandson Andy, whose outstanding accomplishments were a real source of pride for her. Son Stephen chose to become a Marine and he attributes his success in no small part to the grit and determination imbued upon him by both of his parents. Dorothy’s enthusiasm for our Nation and his service was never ending. Stephen’s lovely wife Justine and their two boys, Sam and Jack, each “super stars” in her mind, also fueled her happiness.
Dorothy and her daughter Regina shared a deep impenetrable bond. They lifted each other up during the most difficult of times and never wavered in their love and support for each other. Dorothy was Regina’s biggest champion. Regina will never forget her mother’s patience and kindness towards others and her gentle reminders about how easy is to practice these qualities. They particularly enjoyed shopping, dining out and decorating their home. Regina was her primary caretaker, and she considers this responsibility to have been a privilege. Throughout Dorothy’s final chapter, Regina would hold her Mom tightly and tell her how grateful she was to have such a wonderful and beautiful Mother, a message she reinforced just before she departed this earth to be with her family in heaven. Although Regina is heartbroken, she finds comfort in knowing that she and her Mom will be reunited someday.
As previously noted, Dorothy was kind. She was also generous and authentic. She would gravitate to people who appeared to need a “lift”. Her effervescence, complemented by her expressive blue eyes and beautiful smile would inevitably improve their disposition. Oftentimes these encounters would be the start of a lifelong friendship. She cherished these bonds and nurtured her friends with her humor, practical advice and her special insights. She was exceptionally sensitive and if she thought she might have said “too much”, she was quick to offer a heartfelt apology.
Dorothy was also strong-willed, righteous and patriotic. Although the consummate “perfect lady”, she was a formidable force to contend with when she adopted a cause. Her positioning statement would usually begin with the word “Kindly” and devolve from there.
Dorothy adored her father. He was a fireman, so she had a special place in her heart for first responders. As she aged, she often required emergency assistance. No matter how sick she was, she’d express her appreciation for their service and proudly relay that her father had been a fireman.
She was a woman of simple pleasures. She would always declare her old-fashioned vanilla ice cream with chocolate sprinkles, chocolate caramels and baked scallop dinners to be Deeelicious! She considered the extensive plantings on her deck to be “Gooorgeous” and this setting provided her with endless hours of entertainment. She thrilled at the thought of going on vacations, especially in oceanside locations. During those times, her habit was to rise early and situate herself on the deck to say her prayers, while gazing at the waves. She took pride in her appearance, keeping a strict schedule of weekly hairdressing appointments. She was an impeccable dresser. Her favorite color was navy blue, as evidenced in her extensive and very fashionable wardrobe. She was a drum majorette in Saint Theresa’s band; as a result she was fond of parades. She also delighted in celebrating holidays, especially Christmas. She’d spend early mornings throughout the Christmas season marveling at her tree.
In closing, Dorothy’s family would like to extend their sincere appreciation to her niece, Elaine Leonard. They shared an exceptionally loving relationship and were the best of friends. Dorothy always looked forward to her daily call from Elaine to catch up and to remind her how much she loved her. During her final journey, Elaine played a significant role in supporting her caregiving team with the greatest of gifts-her time and attention. Elaine was by her side, holding her hand until her last breath.
Additionally, the family would like to recognize her longtime caretaker, companion, confidante and dear friend, Mary Doherty. Mary’s dedication to enhancing Dorothy’s days was remarkable and this provided critical relief during the most difficult of times.
Dorothy was and always will be a lasting gift; how blessed all of us are to have known her.
Please join us in celebrating her life at her Funeral Mass at Saint Theresa of Avila Church, 2078 Centre St. West Roxbury on Thursday, December 19th at 10:00 AM. Interment will follow at Saint Joseph’s Cemetery.
Her family would appreciate donations in her memory to be directed to your local Fire Department.
Finally, we’d like to remind you to “drive safely”. This advisory, prefaced by the words “I love you”, was always part of her goodbyes.