Dorothy was born on October 31, 1932, to Joseph and Mary (Messa) Errico in Bronx, NY. She attended P.S. 16 and was a 1950 Honor Roll Graduate of Evander Child’s High School. She was hired as the personal secretary for the President of Shinko Sangyo, an importer of Japanese textiles.
She met Theodore C. Ruehl in 1948. They married on June 20, 1953 just prior to his deployment to Korea for military service. Upon his return they started their family. They moved to Suffern, N.Y. in 1966 where she continued raising her 5 children, instilling the importance of good ethics, values and family to all of them.
In 1977 she became an Avon representative. She would quickly prove to be one of their top representatives with sales volumes earning her award levels such as President's Club, Honor Society, Rose Circle and David H. McConnell Club. In addition to these awards, she was presented with many iconic Avon Albee Figurines year after year and had an entire curio where they were proudly displayed. She had a great gift to create conversation with anyone, thus developing many long-lasting friendships along with her sales. She continued selling until she was 88, still wishing she had the stamina to continue. This same stamina is what helped her defeat cancer in 1994.
Dorothy was a multifaceted person. She enjoyed sewing and made a variety of casual, business and elegant dresses in all colors since she did not have a favorite. She enjoyed cooking, baking and celebrated each family member’s birthday with their favorite meal and dessert. She loved hosting family gatherings, dinner parties and baking special desserts passed down from her family recipes that will be cherished forever. She collected seashells and would create unique pictures on glass with them. You could often hear her singing around the house especially her favorite song “More”. She loved her sweet treats especially cannoli, jelly donuts, marzipan rainbow cookies and chocolate covered cherries.
Dorothy is predeceased by her husband Theodore of 62 years (84 / 2014), her son Christopher (56 / 2021) and her sister Maryanne Jelonek (80 / 2019). She is survived by her loving children Dorothea King, Jeanette Ruehl, Valerie (Raymond) Williamson and Theodore (Tundi) Ruehl Jr., her daughter-in-law Gillian, her 8 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren as well as 9 nieces and nephews.
She cherished her 8 grandchildren, Andra (Joseph) Leonard, Kasey Williamson, Arielle (Anthony) Adamo, Devin Williamson, Brianna Ruehl, Alexandra Ruehl, Benjamin Ruehl and Molly Ruehl and 3 great-grandchildren, Harper and Bailey Leonard and Ava Adamo. She loved attending as many school concerts, dance recitals and graduations of theirs as she could. There was always a filled cookie jar ready for their visits.
A Visitation will be held Monday June 19, 2023 from 2:00 - 4:00 PM and 7:00 - 9:00 PM at Wanamaker and Carlough Funeral Home, 177 Route 59, Suffern, N.Y. 10901. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on her wedding anniversary date, at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, June 20 at the Church of the Sacred Heart, 129 Lafayette Avenue, Suffern, N.Y. 10901 with interment to follow at Frederick Loescher Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 220 Brick Church Road, New Hempstead (Spring Valley) N.Y. 10977.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contributions be made in her son Christopher’s name to: The Amyloidosis Foundation, https://amyloidosis.org/act
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