Laraine "Tess" Arlene Dotinga

Tessa Dotinga(Peterson) of Hemet, Ca passed away on November 19 at the age of 82. She was born on November 2, 1943 in Hemet, CA where she grew up in the Little Lake area where her family had an egg ranch. She has many memories of trips with the Hemet Jeep club and travels in the trailer with family friends.

She graduated from Hemet High School class of 1961. She went to nursing school and worked as a medical assistant locally until she married Pete in 1965.

Together were they ran Dotinga Dairy for almost 50 years, later with the help of their son Andy. They looked forward to Sunday family dinner, Monday Night bowling with the dairy group, Trips with the “Fearsome Foursome” to Las Vegas every February. They traveled with their friends when they could and had many stories to share. She loved to entertain and was a great cook. The only sport she enjoyed was tennis. She played twice a week for years and loved the ladies she played and talked with.

She was actively involved and was a very supportive mom taking Andy to little league, Sally to Flag and Banner and both to 4-H events for the eight years they were members of the Winchester Harvesters. With pump pot in hand she sat for hours on a hard bleacher with the other parents that became life long friends.

Tessa was proud to be a founding member of the Assistance League of Hemacinto. She volunteered for over 30 years in Operation School Bell, worked in the thrift store and looked forward to attending the Christmas Gala. Over the years she helped make the decorations for the Opportunity trees, working for months before, hand- making ornaments for five different Christmas trees. That’s over 500 ornaments per year that the group created. Most years she designed and sewed her Gala dress as well and loved every minute of it.

She was a very proud Grammy, teaching Jill and Janna how to cook and sew and play. As adults they have mastered Swedish crepes, chicken and dumplings and numerous sewing crafts. Pete and Tess both traveled with the Scott family to wherever their son-in-law Brad would take them. They shared many road trips and back road adventures.

She is preceded in death by her Parents, Cliff and Irene Peterson. Husband, Pete Dotinga. Son, Andrew Dotinga.

She is survived by her Sister, Linda Thress and Daughter, Sally Scott

Family and friends are invited to attend a A Celebration of Life will be determined at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in her honor to hemacintoassistanceleague.org. Mailing address: Assistance League of Hemacinto P.O. Box 5425 Hemet, CA 92544

Please share pictures of you and Tess having fun.