Dorothy M. Bennett

Dorothy M. Bennett entered eternal life on Monday, August 4, surrounded by her four girls, Kathleen, Marlene, Maureen and Eileen. She leaves to join her beloved husband, Thomas P. Bennett, to whom she was married for fifty-seven years.

Born and raised in Jersey City to Joseph Hess and Mary Hess (Saluk), Dorothy graduated from St. Dominic’s Academy in 1948. A consummate “Jersey” girl, Dorothy lived in the Heights section with her parents and three brothers, Joseph, Robert and Richard.

Dorothy was to marry Tom in June of 1951, but when Tom received his orders to report to the US Army to be shipped to Korea, the pair managed to organize their wedding in three days. When the prospective guests were telephoned on Saturday that the wedding was changed to Monday, a month early, most thought it was a joke. Persevering, they managed to pull it off with Dorothy able to wear her wedding gown. Unfortunately, the film in the photographer’s camera spoiled and there are no pictures of the event. They did manage a four-day honeymoon in Atlantic City before Tom shipped out.

When the family moved to Ohio for business, Dorothy would routinely pile all four children into the car (pre seatbelts) to make the eight-hour drive, by herself, back to New Jersey to visit family.

The quintessential homemaker, Dorothy delighted in gatherings of family and friends, centered around a big and bountiful table. Proud of her Ukrainian heritage, Dorothy hosted a festive New Year’s Day dinner featuring traditional foods of the region.

Dorothy lived in Secaucus for over fifty years. Dottie and Tom divided their year between Secaucus and New Symrna Beach Florida, where they enjoyed the views on the Intercoastal Waterway. They became snowbirds for the season but always returned to New Jersey for the holidays celebrated with family.

Dorothy and Tom enjoyed international travel with their family, visiting England, Italy, Sicily and cruises to the Caribbean. Closer to home, travels included skiing in Vermont, Maine lobsters, and cruising the waters of the Hudson River and the Jersey Shore. Trips to Florida were an opportunity to discover the south-east coast of the USA.

Always up for a party, Dorothy and Tom enjoyed special 80th birthday celebrations and an extra-special 50th anniversary hosted by their daughters at the Highlawn Pavilion, on Eagle Rock overlooking the New Jersey meadowlands to the east. Family and friends viewed the spectacular NYC skyline just a month before the devastating attack of 9/11.

Dorothy leaves a large circle of family and friends, including her four daughters and their husbands: Kathleen Bennett and Vincent LaPaglia, Marlene and Tony Lupo, Maureen and Jerry Paonessa, and Eileen and Rick Zeidler. She was especially proud of her grandchildren, Matthew (Lily), Genevieve (Joe), Andrew (Katelynn), Erik, Katherine and Sarah. Her four great grandchildren, Lena, Louis, Lucy and Emma held a special place in her heart.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the VHS Hospice Services of New Jersey (www.vhsofnj.com). The family would like to acknowledge the care and support of Comfort Keepers (www.comfortkeepers.com) who assisted Mom, especially Priscilla and Michele.