Doris E. Closterman

Doris Evans Closterman, known as Dori, was the beloved wife of David M. Closterman. They married on June 10, 1967, in Wilkes-Barre, PA. She was a loving mother to her children and their spouses: Wendy Closterman, married to Michael Pigg (Jenkintown, PA); David Closterman, Jr., married to Melissa Cornell Closterman (Buckingham, PA); and James Closterman, married to Maria (Clark) Closterman (Hatboro, PA). She was also a caring grandmother of David Closterman III of Atlanta, GA (son of Dave Jr. and Melissa), Ava (Closterman) Rhodes of West Chester, PA (daughter of Dave Jr. and Melissa and married to Nandin Rhodes), and Kayla Pigg of Jenkintown, PA (daughter of Wendy and Michael). And she was dear to many other relatives and friends.

Dori was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, on October 30, 1943 to Zelma M. (Acker) Evans (born in Perry County, PA) and Albert H. Evans (born in Tower City, PA). She was a graduate of Myers High School of Wilkes-Barre in 1961, and of Wilkes University in 1965 with a BS in both elementary education and psychology. She then pursued a master’s degree in library science from Marywood University in Scranton and Villanova University, leaving three credits shy of completion to focus on raising her children.

In the 1960s, Dori taught 3rd grade at Drexel Hill in the Upper Darby School District and in Mountaintop, PA in the Central Luzerne County Jointure School District. She also taught library skills to elementary students in the Wilkes-Barre School District while in charge of the book mobile program. In the 1990s, she was a librarian for two years for the Academy of the New Church Secondary Schools in Bryn Athyn, PA, and then for a time worked in the library of the Swedenborg Foundation in West Chester, PA.

She was a lifelong avid reader of the theological writings of Emanuel Swedenborg, and her approach to life was rooted in her deep engagement with the ideas she found in Swedenborg’s books.

She had a passion for working with fabric, yarn and thread, and always had multiple projects on the go. She was fascinated with color and design, and she filled her home and showered loved ones with her prolific output from sewing, knitting, needlepoint, cross-stitch and quilting.

She also was a mystery buff. She constantly read “cozy” mystery novels and enjoyed watching British mystery shows.

Although she experienced a number of serious illnesses throughout her life, she did not let them hold her back from what she loved. She approached life with resilience, strength, perceptiveness, and good will. She will be remembered for her engaging conversation, philosophical thinking, sense of humor, creativity, and kindness.

Dori died peacefully in her home on November 25, 2024. She was preceded in death by a brother, William Evans (Wilkes-Barre, PA), and two sisters, Marion (Evans) Wallace (Macungie, PA) and Janice (Evans) Krapf (Hunlock Creek, PA).

A memorial service will be held on December 14, 2024, at 11:00 AM at Lamb Funeral Home, 101 Byberry Road, Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006 and will be livestreamed. (Link to join is https://www.facebook.com/LambFuneral/). Visitation will begin at 10:00 AM. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Swedenborg Foundation (www.swedenborg.com).