Dorothy Harrison

 It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Dorothy M Harrison of Wayne NJ.  Dorothy left this life on March 21, 2023. She was at home with the comfort of her family by her side.

Dot was born the only child of Mae and Herman Fiedler on December 3, 1930, in Paterson NJ. She and her lifelong friend Ruth attended Central High in Paterson graduated in 1948 and went on to the Paterson General Hospital School of Nursing together. Dorothy became a Registered Nurse in 1951

Dot continued to work at Paterson General Hospital and its successors in Wayne for her entire career. She made many friends there. One especially good one was Betty Re. Dot worked in many departments over the years, she ended her career as head nurse of the recovery room in 1994. Over her 43 years as a nurse, she touched many lives with her compassion and left a lasting positive impression on them.

In 1951 Dot met her future husband on a blind date set up by her friend Ruth. Dorothy Fiedler and Robert Harrison were married on July 26,1952. They moved to Packanack Lake in 1955 and had 3 children, Susan 1957, Nancy 1958, and Steven 1961. They raised their 3 kids in that small house filled with Pets, People, and all things family. Shore vacations, camping trips, skiing adventures, swimming and sailing at the lake filled our lives. Unfortunately, after 32 years Dot and Bob’s marriage came to an end. Dot stayed on at the house in Packanack where she lived for 68 years.

Throughout her life Dorothy was a loving, devoted, and wonderful mother and Grandmother. She was a helpful and caring friend to all who knew her. Although voted most bashful by her high school peers she came out of her shell as she got older. She was known for her humor, and easy-going nature. She could tell a good story, and she often did, much to the delight of her family and friends. Dot had many passions, she loved animals especially dogs. She always had a dog and used to breed and show Golden Retrievers in the later 1960s. She was a card player, with regular dates set up for playing with friends, especially a monthly poker game with “Aunt Ruth”, “Aunt Betty” and their spouses. Traveling was also at the top of her list; she traveled the world with Betty and friends by ship and bus. Seeing the Baltic nations, the Panama Canal, and the Amazon River to name a few. Many bus trips across America and short ones to “AC” made her happy. Her greatest love though was fishing, from her younger days on the Pequest with Ruth and her family, to landing a sea run Dolly Varden trout from a canoe with Steve, she loved it all. Surf fishing was her favorite though, she could stand in the wash at Ocean Beach or Island Beach State Park and just wait. In 1999 at the age of 69 Dot won the Governors Surf Fishing Tournament, the highlight of thousands of fish caught in her life.

It was through her that the three of us have learned to love a little friendly competition and the outdoor pursuits we enjoy so much.  We will miss her everyday.

Dorothy is survived by her children Susan Harrison Wayne NJ, Nancy Harrison Coe Northwood NH, Steven Harrison Issaquah WA, four grandchildren she loved so much, Silas Harrison, David Coe, Ruby Harrison, and Jamie Coe. Dot is also survived by her dog Penny and 3 “Grandoggers”