Obituary of Dorothy Julia Schiffendecker
Dorothy Schiffendecker (née DePietro), 94 years, of Berlin NJ, passed away peacefully on January 21, 2021. Beloved wife for 69 years of the late Edward Schiffendecker, Sr. Loving mother of Edward Schiffendecker, Jr. (Jayne) and Barbara Middleman (the late Fran). Dear sister of Anthony DePietro (Mary) and Geraldine Breland (the late Bill). Cherished grandmother of 5 and great grandmother of 7.
Dorothy was a long-time resident of West Berlin. She was employed for many years as a seamstress and also enjoyed making garments and window curtains for family and friends. Later she worked at both Lit Brothers and Gimbels at the Echelon Mall and as a teacher’s aide at the Edgewood Jr. High School.
Dorothy was an excellent cook and for many years made gravy and meatballs every Sunday morning. She loved flowers and enjoyed doing her own home re-decorating, including painting and papering. She loved playing cards and Scrabble with her friends and visiting with and having coffee with her many aunts and cousins.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend her viewing on Wednesday morning from 10:00AM to 11:00AM at the COSTANTINO-PRIMO FUNERAL HOME, 231 W. WHITE HORSE PIKE BERLIN NJ 08009. Funeral service 11:00AM. Interment in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Berlin NJ. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105 would be appreciated. To leave lasting condolences or photos, please use the links on this page.
Eulogy written by: Edward Schiffendecker
My Mom didn't need Women's lib or the Me Too movement. In her entire life my mother always said what she wanted to say, and did what she wanted to do. She didn't need an equal rights amendment....she always felt that she was equal anyone, and heaven help anyone who challenged her on that.
My mother was a great mother to Barb and me. She was always there for us no matter the situation and she always had our back.
My Mom worked hard for many years. She was a talented seamstress. She sewed at Rossi's dress shop in West Berlin, and several other shops. She enjoyed sewing and making garments for family and friends. Later, she worked at both Gimbels and Lit's at the Echelon Mall and as a teacher's aide at Edwood Junior High School.
My Mom also played hard. She had many close friends, but sadly, most of them left her years ago. Norma Rossi, Gloria Cimino, Gloria Weikel, my mother's friend since childhood, Caroline Marella, Gina Capelli and her cousin Viola. They partied together, they went clubbing together, and in their later years played Canasta and Scrabble together.
My Mom was a great cook. She made gravy and meatballs every sunday morning, and like many Italian families, we had macaroni every Sunday and Thursday. Notice I said "macaroni", not pasta. For many years, my mother hosted all the Thanksgiving dinners and the traditional Christmas Eve feast. Also, another tradition developed and all of her and my father's friends would party in our dining room on Christmas evening. Almost everyone smoked in those days and I can remember the room literally being in a fog.
My Mom kept an immaculate house and loved flowers. She also enjoyed doing her own re-decorating , including painting and papering. She papered the ceiling. Our house had plaster walls, and I can remember using the Electro-lux with the spray attachment, spraying water on the walls and ceiling and scrapping off the old wall paper.
My Mom loved and was very close to her brother Anthony and sister Geraldine. She absolutely adored her grandchildren and there is probably nothing in the world she would not do for them.
My Mom had a long life, a good life. It had it sorrows, of course, but there were far more good days, good times.
In her last days, my Mom would talk about missing my father, missing her friends, missing her many DeLuca family cousins, with whom she was very close.
My Mom is with them all now. She can have another DeLuca family reunion, and she can once again play Canaster and Scrabble with Norma and Gloria, and the other girls.
Knowing that my Mom is now with her family and friends in heaven is our only consolation. I am certain that they are rejoicing now that my Mom is with them. Someday, when the pain of her loss is not as great as it is today, and knowing that she is now with her loved ones for eternity, maybe, just maybe, we will be able to rejoice too.
REST in peace MOM...I love you.
