Obituary of Dorothy L. Whittier

Dorothy (Dotty) Lawry Whittier, 64, of North Billerica, Massachusetts, passed away November 19, 2018, with her family by her side.

She was born to John Winslow Lawry and the late Dorothy Dole Lawry, on January 22, 1954, in Boston, Massachusetts. Dotty graduated from Melrose High School in 1972 and received a Bachelor of Arts in Education and the Arts from Chatham College in 1975. The following August, she married the great love of her life, Sumner Gage Whittier II.

Several years later, she became a mother to Laurel (Whittier) Holland, of Kennewick, Washington, and Paige (Whittier) Beckman, of Rockport, Maine. Dotty loved children, both her own and those she taught for thirty years, most recently at the Concord Children’s Center in Concord, Massachusetts. In recent years, Dotty cherished her role as a grandmother (Mammy) to her three grandchildren, Charlotte Grace Beckman, Samuel Gage Beckman, and Addison Jaye Holland.

Dotty was also passionate about reading and writing, and obtained a master’s degree in Literacy Studies from Lehman College in 2005.

Dotty took great joy in community involvement, and was an active member of the Centre Congregational Church in Lynnfield, Massachusetts.

Over the years, Dotty also continued to pursue her interest in the arts, painting, singing, and playing the piano.

She leaves behind a legacy of love and laughter, to be carried on by her husband, Sumner (Gage); two daughters, Laurel and Paige, and their respective spouses, Jon, and Eric; three grandchildren, Charlotte, Sam, and Addison; sister, Jane; and father, John. Dotty is further survived by other relatives and many friends. A celebration of Dotty’s life will be held on November 25, 2018, at 1 p.m., at the Centre Congregational Church in Lynnfield. The family intends to honor Dotty’s bright and vibrant spirit by wearing colorful attire and encourages those who attend to do the same.