Obituary of Dorothea Woessner

Dorothea (Dot) Stonitsch Woessner passed away in Poughkeepsie, NY on Saturday, August 12, 2023 at the age of 92 after a period of declining health.  She was born in December 1930 in Cedarhurst, Long Island, New York to the late Frank Stonitsch and Marie Graf Stonitsch.  She attended schools on Long Island and graduated from New Paltz Teachers College in 1952.

On July 27, 1952, she married Arthur Woessner.  They were together for 52 years until his death in 2004.  Dot taught elementary school for 30 years in the Wappingers Central School District.  She retired from Fishkill Elementary School in 1988 where she taught kindergarten for 23 years.

After her retirement, she and Arthur moved from Wappingers Falls where they had lived for 36 years to S. Chatham, Massachusetts on Cape Cod.  They resided in S. Chatham for 15 years until Arthur’s death.  Dot then returned to Dutchess County to live in Hyde Park for 18 years until her death.  She belonged to the Antique Study Club for many years.  She also enjoyed and was very talented in painting, sketching and art in many forms for the remainder of her life.

Dot is survived by her son Michael Woessner and his wife Cynthia from Westford, MA,  daughters Jean Marie Hellmann and her husband John from Apex, NC and Joan Mary Goldhammer and her husband Brad from Poughkeepsie, NY.  Also grandchildren Justin Woessner from Burlington, WA,  Lauren Diaz and her husband Moses from Visalia, CA, Danielle Zanck from Poughkeepsie, NY and Caitlin Seyler and her husband Brian from Apex, NC.  Also surviving her are her 6 great grandchildren, Apollo, Aurora, Cyrus, Mia, Madeline and Jaxton and several nieces and nephews.  Besides her husband Arthur, her grandson Johnny Hellman predeceased her.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Timothy Doyle’s Funeral Home, Poughkeepsie, NY. Visitation will be on August 18, 2023 from 10:00am to 1:00pm. Service will begin at 1:00pm with entombment to follow at Fishkill Rural Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, Dot requested that everyone give a donation to the charity of their choice.