Dorothy L. Potter

Dorothy L. Potter 84 passed away on Nov. 21, 2016 at her home in Lykens PA. She was born Dec. 24, 1931 in Cranston RI and raised through the thick of the Great Depression learning the true value of what it was like to make personal sacrifice for family and friends and to go without. She was also a survivor of the Great New England Hurricane 0f 1938 by clinging on to the side her Grandfathers row boat as she was pulled into the bay area and crying later to the aftermath of the disaster to the loss of so many childhood friends. She married Robert H. Potter in 1948 also a native of Rhode Island, to start her life as a wife and later to become a loving mother of seven children, one grandchild which she raised from birth as her own, six grandchildren, and 5 great children and to ensure they would never have to endure the pain and suffering she went through as a child, there would never be a day that they would go to bed hungry, scared, cold or a place to call home as she did. She was always more of a mother than anything else in her life that was her primary goal; never being materialistic of anything and was always making that personal sacrifice for her children to see their happiness. She is survived by Robert H. Potter Sr. (divorced) three daughters: Stephanie A. Gosselin, Dorothy L. Gemberling, Kimberly A. Reynolds and two sons: Robert H. Potter Jr. and William F. Potter. Both her sons are USAF retired combat veterans in which she completely supported their careers giving much needed support and strength when they were alone and so far away in life. She had a 10th grade education because she chose to work in order to help her mother support her siblings until it became too much and she became old enough to work a full time job as a pediatric nurses Aid in the Westerly Hospital. With her free time in her later years she would always volunteer her time to help others tend to their ageing family members by doing whatever was needed to help, cooking, cleaning, or being there just hold their hand as the lord came for them. She also became a member of the Ladies Auxiliary VFW Post 2385, Gratz Pa. Services will be held on Nov. 28 at 10am for family and close friends, at the James A. Reed Funeral Home, Pillow Pa. then she will be finally taken home to Rhode Island she loved so much. The family extends a special thank you to her closest friends Rose and Cheryl and to Homeland Hospice for all their support in a time of need, my mother’s Earth Angels as she called them, Gail, Ann, Rhonda, Becky, Carolyn and Jim (fuddy duddy). Any contributions can be made to Homeland Hospice, 2300 Vartan Way, Suite 115 Harrisburg Pa. 17110. God Bless You Mom, for he has another Angel in his kingdom.

Dorothy L. Potter

December 24, 1931 - November 21, 2016