Dorothy May “Dottie” Quinlan, age 89 years, of Raritan Township, NJ, died peacefully on Sunday, December 22, 2019 at Hunterdon Care Center, Raritan Township, NJ. Born in Brooklyn, NY, May 30, 1930, daughter of the late Jerry and Sophie Pezanowsky Calamari, she was raised in the Sunset Park section of Brooklyn and had formerly livedContinue Reading
Dorothy May “Dottie” Quinlan, age 89 years, of Raritan Township, NJ, died peacefully on Sunday, December 22, 2019 at Hunterdon Care Center, Raritan Township, NJ.
Born in Brooklyn, NY, May 30, 1930, daughter of the late Jerry and Sophie Pezanowsky Calamari, she was raised in the Sunset Park section of Brooklyn and had formerly lived in Glen Spey, NY and Brooksville, FL prior to moving to Raritan Township in 2009.
A graduate of Fort Hamilton High School, Dottie was most proud of her roles as a loving and devoted daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. Her life was based on the foundation principles of faith, hope and love, and she ensured her children were instilled with the assurances of the promises of a good and loving God.
Her husband, John Ronald Quinlan, was a Sergeant with New York City Police Department who worked hard so that Dottie could remain at home and tend to her full time job which was raising the couples five children. The two, who fell in love at first sight at a high school dance, were truly a team and they lived for adventure. They enjoyed a tremendous relationship based on mutual respect and simply enjoyed each other’s company until John’s passing in 1993.
Her children fondly recall their mother as hand-working and selfless; Dottie ensured that the needs of each of her children were met with understanding and love and though it was a large Irish-Catholic family, each of the children was always made to feel special. She was also known to constantly be cooking for her children and their friends, with her macaroni and meatballs being part of the legendary Sunday family dinners.
Her faith in Jesus Christ permeated all that she did and that foundation of love and humility she credited with being able to help her children and grandchildren grow and thrive in the world. It also allowed her to be strong and stoic as she navigated her own health journey the past several years, always leaning on God for guidance and support.
One of Dottie’s most prized physical possessions was a family heirloom statue of the Infant of Prague. This statue, symbolizing Jesus as an Infant, reminded her that prayer should never be encumbered by age and that praying with ones whole heart, as a child does, is an amazing thing for one’s soul. Saint Therese of Lisieux once wrote, “For me prayer is a surge of the heart, it is a simple look towards Heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial, and joy.” For all those reading this, please continue to pray for Dottie and for all those whom you love, and let that prayer strengthen your soul. In confidence, we are assured that Dottie is continuing to pray for all of us who remain, until we are all reunited with her one day in the place promised to us all in John 14. Her memory and love will surely live on because of her actions in life, and for that, we are all grateful.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a brother, John Calamari.
Surviving are her children and their spouses, John Quinlan, Linda and Mark Fedow, Jean Marie and John Vitale, James and Gina Quinlan, and Commander Gerard Quinlan, (USN-Ret.) and his wife, Briana Quinlan; her grandchildren, Cassandra Quinlan, John Vitale, Jr. and his wife, Tara, Sophia Vitale, Gabrielle Quinlan, and Cole Quinlan; two great grandchildren, Giovanna and John III; a brother, George Calamari; a sister, Mary Ann Maisano; several extended family; and many dear friends.
A Mass of Christian Burial celebrated by Rev. Thomas J. Serafin will take place on Saturday, January 4, 2020, beginning at Noon at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, 105 Summer Road, Three Bridges, NJ 08887, under the care and direction of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ. Everyone is kindly requested to meet directly at the Church on Saturday morning beginning at 11:45 a.m.
Burial with her beloved husband, John, will take place privately at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, FL.
Please visit Dottie’s permanent memorial site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a memorial candle, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of her life.
For those who wish to honor Dottie, please make a gift in her honor to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Avenue, Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601 or online by clicking HERE.
_____________________________
Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”
An environmentally friendly option.
Your condolence may need to be approved before it appears on this page. It may not appear immediately once submitted.
Your condolence may need to be approved before it appears on this page. It may not appear immediately once submitted.
Your condolence may need to be approved before it appears on this page. It may not appear immediately once submitted.
Thank you for leaving a condolence.
Your comment has been submitted for moderation.