Dorothy Mae DeLuca

Dorothy Mae (ne Spahr) DeLuca passed away in her bed, at home, on the night of February 10. The daughter of John Charles Spahr f Phillipsburg, NJ and Florence Ensley of Easton, PA, “Dot” was born in Easton on August 7, 1920 and grew up in Temple, PA, where her father was an electrical engineer for the power company. Dot graduated from Muhlenberg High School in 1938. In high school she took secretarial classes, won a prize for her poetry and ran track. Graduating into a depressed economy, she first worked in a factory looping socks, but eventually found clerical work at Carpenter Steel. Over the course of her life, Dot worked in several secretarial positions, Her last jobs were in El Paso, where she spent more1/2 her 90 years, She worked as the secretary at the Salvation Army and in the District Clerk’s Office. Dot met her husband of 61 years, Alex (Duke) in Reading, PA, where he was working as an Army recruiter they eventually had six children. She put her love and her care into the family, cooking, caring, soothing, and guiding. Dot loved animals, and made a home for mice, birds, ducks, dogs, and cats. She helped birds learn to fly. The family would like to thank Dr. G.E. Martin, Josefina, Soledad (Chole), Amalia, and Petra for caring for their mother and making the last years of her life as full as they were. Her husband duke preceded her in death, as did her oldest son, Alex III. Survived by her children Patricia Fuller of Bloomfield, NM, Michael Zientek of Shillington, PA, Maria Sikora of Belleville, IL, Stephen DeLuca of Philadelphia, PA and Timothy DeLuca, of El Paso, TX; and by 17 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. She is remembered as a devoted wife, loving mother, and lover of animals. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in her name to the SPCA or Human Society of El Paso. Visitation will be held 5pm to 9pm Thursday, February 17, 2011 at Funeraria Del Angel Martin Central with a 7pm vigil. Funeral Mass will be held 12:45 p.m. Friday February 18, 2011 at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Ft. Bliss National Cemetery. Funeral Arrangements under the direction of Funeraria Del Angel Martin Central. Condolences may be offered at www.FunerariaDelAngelMartin.com