Passed away at Addeo House on November 21, 2021
Dorothy (Dot) Fleming had a tremendous love for her family. Single all her life, her joy centered on her nieces, Diane (Michael), Jennifer (Christian) and Carolyn (Kevin) and nephew Brendan (Melissa), and their children: Eamon (7), Faye (6), Colin (4) and Uma (4 months).
A native Staten Islander like her mom and dad, she enjoyed growing up on Staten Island, attending St. Clare's grammar school and St. Peter's high school, like her dad! She was a Girl Scout and attended their Roundup, a national gathering of girl scouts, in Colorado when she was in high school. She enjoyed camping and singing many songs around the glowing campfire by dark.
Dot had many passions. She showed that attribute early by choosing to become a nurse. She served as a “Candy-striper” at Richmond Memorial Hospital during her high school years. After graduating from Christ Hospital School of Nursing in Jersey City, she began her eclectic career in nursing. Always up for an adventure, Dot decided to take her nursing skills to Washington D.C., and then thinking even broader, and having a desire to put her high school Spanish to use, she moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico. While continuing her nursing career, she volunteered her time on the Navajo Indian Reservation at St. Anne's Mission, in Klagetoh, Arizona. That's where she developed another great passion – life in the Southwest, with all its icons: God's Eyes, Kachina dolls, sand paintings, pottery, worry beads, and such.
Eventually missing her family, she came back to Staten Island and picked up her career at Staten Island Hospital, moving on to become a Nursing Supervisor and then the evening Assistant Director of Nursing.
A parishioner of St. Charles, Dot served as a lector. And always thinking of others, she ran a Bereavement group to assist families in times of sorrow.
Among her craft passions were making stained glass creations, like lamp shades and gift items, and crocheting. For St. Anne's Mission, she created stained glass window panels highlighting Southwest images. They now hang in the Mission's chapel.
She always had her crochet hook near and made many lap blankets. She was a faithful member of the Ladies of Charity on Staten Island and organized the making and distribution of the blankets to nursing homes and Addeo House.
Following in her father’s footsteps, she was a member of the Staten Island Geology Society and learned how to polish gemstones and make jewelry. She was also fond of making presentations about this craft.
She loved quirky things and had many collections. She loved playing cards, like Mille Bornes, Pinochle, Kings in the Corner. At a young age, she learned how to play Poker, using money chips, from her grandmother! She loved BINGO and volunteered to be the “caller” at Island Shores, where she resided for the last 5 years of her life.
Dot is survived by her sisters: Maureen Dellacona (Paul) of Garden City and Karen Quest (Edmund) of Staten Island. Your family will miss you, “Tia Dorothea”!
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the caring institution where Dot spent her last precious days, Addeo Hospice Residence, www.siuh.edu/hospice or call (718) 226-6450.
A visitation for Dorothy will be held Tuesday, November 30, 2021 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Casey McCallum Rice South Shore Funeral Home, 30 Nelson Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10308. A visitation will occur Tuesday, November 30, 2021 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM, 30 Nelson Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10308. A funeral service will occur Wednesday, December 1, 2021 from 11:00 AM to 11:45 AM at St. Clares Church, 110 Nelson Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10308. A committal service will occur Wednesday, December 1, 2021 from 12:15 PM to 12:30 PM at Ocean View Cemetery, 3315 Amboy Road, Staten Island, NY 10306.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.caseymccallumrice.com for the Fleming family.
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