Dorothy A. Ponthier

Dorothy Ann Aarts Ponthier died on October 29, 2012. She was born in San Antonio, Texas, on September 12, 1922. The family moved to Houston in 1925 and it was at that time the family began their long and loving association with the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament. Dorothy graduated from Incarnate Word Academy in 1939 and Rice Institute (now Rice University) in 1943. She married Nelson A. Ponthier in 1943 and they were able to share sixty nine wonderful years together. Dorothy’s life was focused on faith, family and service to others. She generously gave of her time to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church and countless individuals who needed help and support. Dorothy taught at I.W.A. and Marian High School, both places dear to her heart. She was a hard working, dedicated teacher who inspired many of her former students to enter the teaching profession. She was also a founding member of the Incarnate Word Associates. Dorothy loved the outdoors, flowers, bird watching, Galveston Island and the Texas hill country. She was also a loyal fan of the Rice Owls and Houston Astros.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents William J. Aarts and Ellin Holmstrom Aarts, her beloved grandchildren Susan Michelle Ponthier and Benjamin Aarts Ponthier, her sister Josephine Hokanson and her nephew James A. Hokanson.

She is survived by her husband Nelson A. Ponthier, her devoted sons Neil, Jeffrey and wife Pat, Christopher and wife Kim. She is also survived by her grandchildren Graig and wife Shannon Ponthier, Paige and husband Chase Faulder, and Amanda Ponthier; her great grand children, Rylan, Kaitlyn, Layne and Grayson Ponthier and Reid Faulder, her niece Harriet and husband Clifford Strieber, and their children Catherine Grimm and Cheryl Strieber.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, November 1, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with a Rosary at 7:00 p.m. at Earthman Bellaire Funeral Home, 6700 Ferris, Bellaire, TX 77401. A funeral mass to celebrate Dorothy’s life will be held on Friday, November 2, 10:00 a.m. at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 6800 Buffalo Speedway, Houston, TX 77025. Rite of Committal will follow at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery.

Memorial offerings in Dorothy’s name should be sent to either Incarnate Word Academy, 609 Crawford, Houston, Texas 77002 or to the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament, 3400 Bradford Place, Houston, Texas 77025.