HOT SPRINGS – Dorothy Monica McLaughlin, 79, passed away in her home Saturday morning on Oct. 27, 2012, due to a bout with cancer.
She was born in St. Marys, Pa., on May 16, 1933, to her father John McLaughlin and mother Anita Knight. Dottie Welch is survived by her sister, Nancy Chapman; six daughters, Patricia Driscoll, Kathie Fronapel, Diane Fronapel, Nancy Mullen, Dallas Ott and Mikey Ott; three sons, Tom Fronapel, Glen Fronapel and Buck Ott; and 17 grandchildren, Fred Boner, Danya Boner, Katey Driscoll, Tom Driscoll, Kyle Fronapel, Trigve Johnson, Brianna Fronapel, Nick Mullen, Joey Mullen, V.J. Giulio, Shey Hannum, Autrey Hannum, Tyris Moss, Sam Conrady, Charlie Conrady, Todd Ott and Taylor Ott.
Mom was a wild lady full of life and loved by all who were blessed enough to know her. She had a great respect and love of the outdoors and spent many summer days at the river rafting and singing around the campfire with her family. She was a very talented seamstress who created beautiful quilts for all of her children and grandchildren. She had a loud beautiful laugh that all her children inherited. She enjoyed the bay of beagles and owned several throughout her life. She kept her mind sharp doing crossword puzzles and Sudoku, and if you think you could beat her at a game of cribbage or Upwords, think again! She was a red, white and blue patriot active in local politics and animate about our rights as citizens of this great country, which she often voiced in her letters to editors of local papers. She was also a proud Irishwoman and drove her convertible green bug in the St. Paddy’s Day parade in Ronan annually. Mom enjoyed traveling and took her children on a trip to New York for the 1986 Liberty Weekend to view the restoration of the Statue of Liberty. She has traveled all over the United States from Washington to New York to Florida to Hawaii, but always returned to her beloved home in Hot Springs. She loved singing during Mass at the Catholic church. She loved the holidays and gathering of all her children and grandchildren together. Mom instilled a strong sense of family in her children who miss her dearly. She was someone special in her own way to each and every one in the family and to all her friends. She was an open-armed momma to many more people than her immediate children. Countless memories full of laughter and fun will keep her alive in our hearts always. Thank you, Mom, for who I am, for who each of us are, started with you.
Dottie’s memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 4, at the Lonepine Hall.
Dorothy is 29 degrees from Herbert Adair, 27 degrees from Richard Adams, 23 degrees from Mel Blanc, 30 degrees from Dick Bruna, 26 degrees from Bunny DeBarge, 39 degrees from Peter Dinklage, 26 degrees from Sam Edwards, 22 degrees from Ginnifer Goodwin, 27 degrees from Marty Krofft, 21 degrees from Junius Matthews, 22 degrees from Rachel Mellon and 26 degrees from Harold Warstler on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.
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