Ontario: Dorothy (Dottie) Victoria Netzel Obergfell passed away peacefully on February 13, 2025, in Mt. Morris, NY at the age of 98. Dorothy was born in Chicago, IL on April 1, 1926, to August and Victoria Netzel. She was predeceased by her brother, George Netzel. She is survived by daughters, Susan Scharps and Sandee Ritter, son,  Scott Obergfell, grandsons, Eric Obergfell and Garrett Obergfell,  granddaughters, Amanda Clark and Kara Obergfell, great granddaughter, Emery Obergfell and her brother, Robert Netzel.

In the 20’s & 30’s Dorothy survived the depression as a young child watching her hard working Dad and Mom, always making a better life for family first, but also enjoying music & family fun together too.

In the 40’s Dottie “fought” WWII as a young adult woman in Chicago as a USO dancer & singer, and for a brief time at the VA in Washington DC on Govt assignment, living at the YWCA. Dottie also sang with big band orchestras and competed in local beauty pageants in Chicago.

In the 50’s she made marriage and motherhood her life, truly believing her calling was to support her husband’s (Howard Obergfell) career and raise a family. She was brave enough to be first generation to move from the city in which her relatives had always lived for the promise of opportunities thousands of miles away for her husband and her family,

In the 60s while still raising her family and running her household she was a voracious reader and continued her education in interior decoration, gourmet cooking, baking decoration, furniture refinishing, religious philosophies, and travel. She loved to bowl and won high score awards. While witnessing and questioning changes shaping the world around her she always remained unswerving in her faith in God and her devotion to her family’s love and family values.

In the 70s Dorothy surprisingly found herself a divorcee back in the workforce and discovered the skills and strengths she developed throughout her marriage – like finding & decorating new homes, meeting new people, reestablishing her family’s life in moving to 9 different states – translated well into valuable assets in her new world of the workforce. She became a bridal consultant at a high-end store with star athletes in her clientele, a furniture sales specialist, a realtor in 2 states, and a party planner.

In the 80’s Dorothy became “Grammy” rekindling her greatest joy – being a Mom/Grandma,

The 90s found her retired – managing to once again reinvent herself establishing a community of friends, learning/teaching aerobics, volunteering at the local library, for her local political party organization, at her residence running the bingo & potlucks, as a poll worker for elections, always attending church every Sunday and traveling for fun & family,

In the 2000’s Dorothy committed herself to handling her Diabetes 2 diagnosis with dignity and perseverance by educating herself on controlling her diagnosis with exercise, nutrition and positivity. She was also always working on multiple projects as she said “organizing 90+ years of memories for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.”

Dorothy led an exemplary life in deeds of astounding bravery in everyday struggles, finding a way through all life threw at her while always keeping family first and remaining the positive, honest, hard working, funny, patriotic, humble, woman of faith she had always been.

There will be no one else like her to pick us up, dust us off, and put us back out there with the confidence that we can deal with whatever comes our way.

An example to everyone, loved by many, missed by all.

Per Dorothy’s wishes, there will be no calling or service. Burial will be private at the convenience of the family. To share a memory or a condolence, please visit: www.doughertyfuneralhomes.com