- Date Of Birth: December 11, 1929
- Date Of Death: August 9, 2021
- State: New Jersey
Our beloved Mother, Dorothy (Dottie/Dotsie) Perretti Panzera’s time on Earth came to an end on August 9, 2021, at the age of 91. She had a fabulous life. She was born in the family home in the Bronx on December 11, 1929. Her early tomboy life included roller skating, playing basketball and riding on the back of her brother’s motorcycle.
Fiercely independent, she was a member of a roller derby team as a teen. Her love of skating led her to meet her beloved husband, Dominick. He was so smitten with her that they married in October 1951. As an Army wife, Dotsie lived all over the world: Formosa, West Point, Alabama, Kansas, Alaska (before it was a state), and Virginia. All her children were her souvenirs from around the world.
In 1966, the family moved to Burlington, New Jersey. Nine years later her beloved husband and our father died suddenly. At this time, Dotsie became a cheerleader, interior decorator, construction foreman, dressmaker, lifeguard, chauffeur, pop-culture expert, grandmother, and CFO. She always told us that “CAN’T isn’t in the dictionary.” She danced with Chiang Kai-shek, took communion with Catholic Cardinals, had dinner with Ray Romano, and witnessed the North Tower fall on 9/11 from a nearby rooftop.
She loved watching Hallmark Christmas movies with her daughters, having large family dinners, eating Stewart’s hamburgers with her close friend, Mickey Cordisco, and spending Halloween with her other best friend, Mel Caruso. She loved to travel around the world and enjoyed many mother/daughter weekend trips, and family gatherings. Dotsie lived life her way, with love and laughter and died peacefully in her sleep at home with her family. Her favorite saying, when things weren’t going right, bears repeating: “Life is an adventure!” And boy, did she have one hell of an adventure.
She is survived by her eight children, Maureen Panzera (Rip Atanasio), Karen (Dave Snare), Michael Panzera, Keith Panzera (Haley) Denise (Danny Vechesky) Kim Panzera, Laura Panzera (fiancée Lou Pica), Mark Panzera (Susan). She will be lovingly remembered by her fourteen grandchildren, and her five great-grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Dotsie was predeceased by her husband, Dominick, her fiancée, Lyle Haynes; her brothers and sister, and her parents, Angela and Giacomo Perretti.
