Dorothy Gates
Obituary Reports the death of an individual, providing an account of the person’s life including their achievements, any controversies in which they were involved, and reminiscences by people who knew them.
Dorothy Valentine Gates, a resilient spirit from Thornwood and Pleasantville, peacefully passed away at her home on June 6. She was 93 years old.
Born on Dec. 6, 1930, to Peter Valentine and Helen Speiss in North Castle, Dorothy’s early years were marked by adversity. Losing her mother to pneumonia at the tender age of three, Dorothy defied the odds and overcame illness herself while navigating a childhood where her father’s presence was sporadic, leading her to spend many years as a ward of the state. Despite these challenges, her indomitable spirit – and ultimately happiness – prevailed.
After graduating from White Plains High School, Dorothy ventured into the world alone. Perhaps because of her beginnings, she remained fiercely independent throughout her life. She was proud of her ability to be self-supporting, and at the tender age of 18, moved into her first apartment on Bryant Avenue in White Plains. She joined Sutton Publishing Company in Manhattan where she carved out her path to success without any external support. She often reminisced about her “commuting days” and her train friends with whom she shared The New York Times daily and played bridge.
Her life took a new turn when she reconnected with James William Gates, a former classmate. Their relationship blossomed despite the distances imposed by Bill’s service in the Navy as an aviator and later as a pilot for Capital Airlines in North Carolina. Their decision to elope to Miami, eschewing the traditional trappings of engagement, reflected Dorothy’s pragmatic nature, opting for a home over a flashy ring.
Together, Dorothy and Bill embarked on a lifelong journey, raising three children – James, Jacqueline and Janice. While Bill pursued his career as a pilot for United Airlines, Dorothy dedicated herself to nurturing their family, relishing the opportunities to travel, especially in later years when their children were grown. Despite their adventures, there was always one constant, a beloved cat, relegated to the basement for slumber.
Tragedy struck when Bill passed away prematurely at the age of 68, leaving Dorothy to navigate life’s challenges once again. Undeterred, she forged ahead, rebuilding her life in Pleasantville with grace and resilience. Despite the loss of her sister, Mary, in 2019, and Dorothy’s husband in 1998, Dorothy’s legacy lives on through her children and her eight cherished grandchildren.
Grandma Dottie, as she was affectionately referred to by her grandchildren, was always good for a piece of advice – solicited or not – and a reminder to be careful out there! Known for her gardening skills, she and Bill always enjoyed a large garden, and Dottie would make endless treasures out of their bounty, canning her own tomato sauce, pickling relish and making peach and raspberry jam. Until her last days, she could be found on her patio in Pleasantville tending her tomatoes and potting plants from her wheelchair.
She was a prolific crafter of all sorts and an accomplished knitter and seamstress and loved needlepoint. Many communion, graduation and prom dresses were produced at her trusty Singer sewing machine as well as knitted hats, booties and sweaters for babies everywhere.
Dottie was also an accomplished jewelry maker, a skill she had developed as a young adult and returned to later in life. She enrolled in classes through Westchester Community College’s Westchester Art Workshop, and her weekly studio sessions and classes, as well as the people she met there, were one of her happiest pursuits. Her children and grandchildren, as well as many friends, are the lucky recipients of many of her designs.
We would like to thank Dorothy’s care team – her nurse practitioner, Diane, and her home healthcare aides, Laura, Yenny and Griselda, who were faithfully by her side each and every day. Your unwavering dedication and love enabled Dorothy to maintain something she cherished most – independence – until her last breath. For that, we are eternally grateful and indebted to you.
Services will be private to honor her enduring spirit and the love she shared with all who knew her. However, if you wish to honor Dottie’s memory, please do so by being kind to each other or making a donation in her name to Help Us Adopt at www.helpusadopt.org.
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