Dorothy M. Parkin

Dorothy Marie Parkin, age 97, of Wayne, passed peacefully on Tuesday, June 25, 2024.

Born and raised in Paterson along with her older brother Edward, Dorothy was the daughter of Edward and Agnes Prince.  She attended School #5 and Central High School in Paterson. After graduating from high school, Dorothy completed a program at Sherwood Secretarial School in Paterson, NJ, graduating first in her class, and she worked as a secretary for a short time at the Chrysler Building in New York and then for Equitable Life Insurance Society in Paterson.

Dorothy met Bill, the love of her life in a bowling alley, who won her heart with his outstanding dance moves and pleasant, outgoing personality.  They eventually married on Saturday, August 23, 1947, at Dorothy’s church, Paterson Avenue Methodist Church in Paterson.  After enjoying a reception at The Morningside, known today as the Morningside Florist and Greenhouse on West Broadway in Haledon, they hopped on a Greyhound bus headed for their honeymoon in the Poconos.

After their honeymoon, the newly married Mr. and Mrs. Parkin settled in Paterson in Dorothy’s mothers’ house, right next door to their church.  During their eight years there, they became very active in the church, and that continued over the course of their life.  Dorothy was a long-time nursery worker, taught children’s Sunday School classes, a long-term delegate to the Methodist conference, worked with the church’s Girl Scout groups, the United Methodist Women’s organization, in the Food Pantry, and in many other areas – wherever there was a need.

Dorothy and Bill were blessed with three beautiful girls, Pat, Pam, and Penny, and in 1955 they built a new home in Wayne where they lived a wonderful life. 

Throughout her life, Dorothy kept active in a myriad of ways, as a seamstress (sewing most of her daughters’ clothes, coats, prom dresses, and even some wedding gowns) as a quilter, and she also knitted and crocheted.  Along with her church activities, she was active in the PTA organizations in the schools and was always involved in supporting her daughters’ activities as they grew up.

After her daughters were all in school, Dorothy began teaching pre-school at Wayne Country Day School and then at Morris Plains Country Day School and enjoyed 29 years there.  She was beloved by her students (and their parents), and many of those students remained in touch with her into adulthood. 

Dorothy was never happier than when all or part of her family was together.  She loved to be near the ocean and when the girls were young the family regularly spent summer days at Silver Beach on the Jersey shore.  As the family grew and grandchildren and great-grandchildren came along, the whole family gathered on Long Beach Island in Barnegat Light, enjoying long days on the beach and lots of card games through the night.  These were some of the most special times of her life.  As they had been with their daughters, Dorothy and Bill were very involved in the lives of their grandchildren, attending all their sporting events, their school programs and concerts, competitions, graduations (both HS and college – regardless of what state they were in), Parent Weekends at their colleges, and of course their weddings.  They were a very important part of each of their lives.  When she and Bill were not with their family, they enjoyed traveling through much of the USA and also overseas with their dear friends George and Jessie Crooks.  They have been to the U.K., Mexico, Ireland, Germany, the Canadian Rockies, Bermuda, Hawaii, and Alaska.  Numerous trips were also made to Disney World in Florida and, for their 50th wedding anniversary, they got to be the grand marshals in the Disney parade. 

Dorothy is survived by her three much-loved daughters: Patricia and husband Joseph Carr of Long Valley, Pamela and husband William Murphy of Livingston, and Penny and husband John Dimmick of Indianapolis, IN; eleven adored grandchildren: Raymond Bush, Ryan Bush, Heather Loudon, Meghan Harris, Rebecca Neidhardt, Rachel West, Billy Murphy, Amanda Rec, John Bendel-Dimmick, Sean Stanton, Joshua Dimmick, and nineteen cherished great-grandchildren: Taylor and Tanner Bush, Andrew, Will, and Tim Loudon, Jonathan and Jacob West, Kaya and Harper Bush, Logan, Tyler, Elizabeth, and Leah Harris, Molly and McKenna Neidhardt, John, Owen, and Eloise Rec, and Isaac Stanton.  She was preceded in death by her cherished husband Bill Parkin, and her brother Edward Prince.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Dorothy’s name are asked to consider the Alzheimer’s Association Greater New Jersey Chapter, 400 Morris Ave., Suite 251, Denville, NJ 07834 or to ECLC – PRIDE, 100 Passaic Ave., Chatham, NJ  07928.