7 January 1922 to 23 June 2015
Dorothy was a regular member of St James and Emmanuel over many years, always smiling and always well turned out.
This tribute is taken from the eulogy given by Judith Dekker at Dorothy’s funeral at St James church on 16 July 2015.
Dorothy was born in Bredbury into the Dickens family, the middle of three daughters. Her older sister Nellie died in 2014 and Ann still lives not far away, in Offerton. The family lived in Denton and later moved to Gorton to live with their paternal grandparents.
Dorothy left school at 14 and worked for a time in a small grocery business and later as a tax inspector. During World War II, Dorothy was an aircraft engine inspector.
She met Dennis when she was about 16 – they lived on the same street – and they married in 1944 at St James church, Gorton. They moved into what was to be their family home in Saddlewood Avenue in about 1950. When children came along, Barbara in 1950 and Graham three years later, she stayed at home, as women did in those days, although she was an active member of the WRVS. Later, Dorothy worked in the Post Office at Parrs Wood. She stayed in Saddlewood Avenue until after Dennis died in 1986.
Dorothy and Dennis were deeply involved in the local community – particularly at Emmanuel. They were both members of the Emmanuel Church Tennis Club on Moorland Road and Dorothy was very competitive. She enjoyed games – tennis, bowling, bridge, whist, dominos, even puzzles – anything, so long as there were other people around to share it with.
Dorothy lived through a lot of Rectors at Emmanuel – from Dr Kenneth Ramsey, who baptised and married Barbara, Hetley Price, David Sams, Canon Sherwood, David Hallatt, David Hughes, Nick Bundock and Ben Edson. She and Dennis were active church members and only a week before her tragic death, Dorothy was standing on duty as a Sidesperson, welcoming people at St James to the 9 o’clock service. She looked back with pride at her time as the Enrolling Member of the Mothers Union at St James and was always welcoming to new members – both young and old.
Dorothy was cheerful and lived in the present. She believed in doing things properly – never letting the children or grandchildren win at games until they could really beat her. She was a good organiser and had a really good brain.
She loved visiting her family in London and Worcester and was delighted to share birthday parties and other celebrations with them. She was good at friendship and her family said that whenever they rang, she was always out. Dorothy was a woman who lived life to the full.
We give thanks for her life and the rich memories she leaves with us.
Her grandchildren wanted to share a poem Dorothy had on the wall of her bathroom. It sums up her faith and positive attitude:
Don’t Give Up
Whatever your problem – however severe –
Don’t give up. God will not let you down.
No matter how hopeless the future appears,
Don’t trade in your smile for a frown.
God holds the future. It’s safe in His hand
So there’s no need to worry or fret;
He’s working a plan you may not understand –
That’s because it is not finished yet.
Walk on through the rain. God won’t let you down.
So watch for a rainbow! It’s true.
The God Who created whole worlds by His hand
Can conquer this problem with you.
