Obituary of Dorothy Tully

Dorothy "Dottie" McKenna Tully, 91, of Amityville, New York died peacefully on October 24, 2017 in Rutland, VT. She had just passed her 91st birthday and was no longer able to engage in her favorite pastime of talking on the phone, so it seemed that it was her time. Dorothy was born in Ozone Park, N. Y. to Harry and Lisbeth Rudlaff on October 14, 1926. She graduated from Valley Stream Central High School and went on to business school at the Packard School in New York City. She retired from Nassau County BOCES where she was a secretary for many years. Dorothy was the daughter of German immigrants and survived a serious childhood illness to go to work in her parents' delicatessen and then on to work two jobs in an era when many women stayed at home. She was married to, and then buried, two unforgettable Irishmen. As an only child, she loved & valued her children, grandchildren and extended family, but never hesitated to share her very definite opinions about virtually everything they should do. She was loyal and generous to the many friends she made throughout her life and stayed in touch with almost all of them. She was a "great entertainer" and became the surviving Matriarch to the next generations. Dorothy was a woman of faith and a regular supporter of many charities. She was a lifelong Democrat, a sports fan and learned to play bridge in her 70s. Two Frank Sinatra songs seemed to have been written for her, "New York, New York" and especially "I Did It My Way." She will be greatly missed. Dorothy is survived by her daughters, Donna (Bill) Pennington, Maureen Padula and Jane Curry, her grandchildren, Andrew (Angela) Secor, Richard (Nicole) Dalton, Gerard & Lisbeth Padula, Michele (Anthony) Paladino, Scott Secor and Kevin Dalton and her great-grandchildren, Ally, Myles, Antonella, Michele and Carter, as well as her loving step-children, John (Marianne) Tully, Colleen Corker, Doreen (James) Ferrara and Kathleen Linn, her step-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband, Gerard McKenna, her second husband, John Tully, son-in-laws, Daniel Padula, Steven Secor and David Corker and step-daughter, Jerilyn Faber. Memorial contributions may be made to Long Island Cares - Harry Chapin Food Bank at 10 David's Drive, Hauppauge, NY.