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October 27, 2023
Services
A memorial service to celebrate Dora’s new life with the Lord will be held on Friday, December 1st at 4 PM at Wayne United Methodist Church, 99 Parish Drive Wayne, NJ. Friends wishing to visit with the family may come to the church fellowship hall from 3-4 PM.
Dora Charlotte Peschel (nee Bernstengel), age 103, of Wayne, passed away peacefully while in the comfort of her home, on Friday, October 27, 2023.
Dora was born on January 1, 1920 in the family home in Grundstasse-Dresden Germany, as the youngest of 11 children. When she was three years old, the family immigrated to the United States on a ship called the George Washington. Dora’s father Willy was already in the United States working as a carpenter. Her mother traveled for ten days on that ship with six children, including Dora in tow, where they entered America through Ellis Island.
Dora was raised in North Bergen and graduated from Emerson High School in Union City with the Class of 1937. After high school she went to business school and soon found work as a clerk/bookkeeper with the American Fly Paper Company in New York City. Her salary was $14.00 per week. In 1940, Dora met a man named Fred Peschel on a blind date arranged by Dora’s brother Eric. Fred took Dora to her Senior Prom and proposed to her on New Year’s Eve in 1941. They married in December 1941 in North Bergen but there was no time for a honeymoon as Fred had to return to his military service. They lived in North Bergen before moving to Wayne in 1949. Dora and Fred enjoyed fifty-three years in a loving marriage before Fred’s passing in 1995.
In addition to raising 5 children, Dora worked at Two Guys in Totowa and as a cook in the Wayne Schools cafeterias. She was active in many roles at the Wayne United Methodist church in the choir, women’s circles, bible studies, book groups, cookie sales, vacation bible school, as a Den Mother of the Cub Scout Pac 101 at its founding, and volunteering at CUMAC. Dora enjoyed gardening in her yard and especially loved to grow dahlias, her favorite flower. She was an excellent seamstress having made clothes for her daughter, drapes for the house, and just about any other conceivable item one might sew. A voracious reader, she was always keeping herself up to date with a daily newspaper and loved a good book. She enjoyed crossword puzzles (in ink!), and excelled when playing Rummikub and Scrabble. Dora was also active in the Wayne Golden Agers, Senior Follies, the Red Hat Club, and a bowling league. She drove until age 95 and often attended the many activities of her grandchildren. Family gatherings for Dora’s birthday on New Year’s Day were always a highlight for singing, playing games, and celebrating.
Dora was the loving wife of the late Fred Peschel (1995); adored mother of Rudy K. Peschel of Wayne, Robert F. Peschel and his wife Susan of Shorewood, WI, Anita M. Dispenziere and her husband Ben of Wayne, David W. Peschel and his wife Wendy of Ringwood, Timothy R. Peschel and his wife Margaret of Wayne, and Carol Peschel of Longboat Key, FL; cherished by thirteen grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. She was loved and respected by her church family. Dora’s family is grateful for the devoted care she received from Sophia, Renata, Monika, and Donna.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to:
The United Methodist Church of Wayne
99 Parish Drive
Wayne, NJ 07470
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
A memorial service to celebrate Dora’s new life with the Lord will be held on Friday, December 1st at 4 PM at Wayne United Methodist Church, 99 Parish Drive Wayne, NJ. Friends wishing to visit with the family may come to the church fellowship hall from 3-4 PM.
October 27, 2023
Services
A memorial service to celebrate Dora’s new life with the Lord will be held on Friday, December 1st at 4 PM at Wayne United Methodist Church, 99 Parish Drive Wayne, NJ. Friends wishing to visit with the family may come to the church fellowship hall from 3-4 PM.
Dora Charlotte Peschel (nee Bernstengel), age 103, of Wayne, passed away peacefully while in the comfort of her home, on Friday, October 27, 2023.
Dora was born on January 1, 1920 in the family home in Grundstasse-Dresden Germany, as the youngest of 11 children. When she was three years old, the family immigrated to the United States on a ship called the George Washington. Dora’s father Willy was already in the United States working as a carpenter. Her mother traveled for ten days on that ship with six children, including Dora in tow, where they entered America through Ellis Island.
Dora was raised in North Bergen and graduated from Emerson High School in Union City with the Class of 1937. After high school she went to business school and soon found work as a clerk/bookkeeper with the American Fly Paper Company in New York City. Her salary was $14.00 per week. In 1940, Dora met a man named Fred Peschel on a blind date arranged by Dora’s brother Eric. Fred took Dora to her Senior Prom and proposed to her on New Year’s Eve in 1941. They married in December 1941 in North Bergen but there was no time for a honeymoon as Fred had to return to his military service. They lived in North Bergen before moving to Wayne in 1949. Dora and Fred enjoyed fifty-three years in a loving marriage before Fred’s passing in 1995.
In addition to raising 5 children, Dora worked at Two Guys in Totowa and as a cook in the Wayne Schools cafeterias. She was active in many roles at the Wayne United Methodist church in the choir, women’s circles, bible studies, book groups, cookie sales, vacation bible school, as a Den Mother of the Cub Scout Pac 101 at its founding, and volunteering at CUMAC. Dora enjoyed gardening in her yard and especially loved to grow dahlias, her favorite flower. She was an excellent seamstress having made clothes for her daughter, drapes for the house, and just about any other conceivable item one might sew. A voracious reader, she was always keeping herself up to date with a daily newspaper and loved a good book. She enjoyed crossword puzzles (in ink!), and excelled when playing Rummikub and Scrabble. Dora was also active in the Wayne Golden Agers, Senior Follies, the Red Hat Club, and a bowling league. She drove until age 95 and often attended the many activities of her grandchildren. Family gatherings for Dora’s birthday on New Year’s Day were always a highlight for singing, playing games, and celebrating.
Dora was the loving wife of the late Fred Peschel (1995); adored mother of Rudy K. Peschel of Wayne, Robert F. Peschel and his wife Susan of Shorewood, WI, Anita M. Dispenziere and her husband Ben of Wayne, David W. Peschel and his wife Wendy of Ringwood, Timothy R. Peschel and his wife Margaret of Wayne, and Carol Peschel of Longboat Key, FL; cherished by thirteen grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. She was loved and respected by her church family. Dora’s family is grateful for the devoted care she received from Sophia, Renata, Monika, and Donna.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to:
The United Methodist Church of Wayne
99 Parish Drive
Wayne, NJ 07470
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