Mrs. Dorothy I. Heller

Dorothy I. Heller Loving Mother, Grandmother, and Sister LOWELL— Dorothy Irene (Reynolds) Heller passed away on Monday evening, May 19, 2014 at Lowell General Hospital following a brief illness. She was 90 years old. Dorothy was the beloved wife of the late George A. Heller who died on August 11, 2009. Dorothy was born in Lowell on March 31, 1924, a daughter of the late Charles F. and Irene (Barry) Reynolds. She attended the Lowell Schools and was a 1942 graduate of Lowell High School, where she was a proud member of the National Honor Society. She had been a parishioner of St. Michael’s Church. During WWII, Dorothy worked as a bookkeeper for the American Parachute Company of Lowell, Mass. Following the war, Dorothy met George A. Heller, a Navy Man, returning from service aboard the USS Ticonderoga. They were married on New Year’s Eve, 1949, and together celebrated 59 wedding anniversaries. Mrs. Heller later worked as a bookkeeper with the Lowell Gas Company, until the birth of her only child, James. Mrs. Heller then remained at home to care for her family. Dot loved to read. Non-fiction and historical works were her favorites. She also loved poetry. A well informed lady, Dorothy would read the newspaper every day and enjoyed completing the crossword puzzles. Dot also had a fondness for antiques and watching the Antiques Roadshow on PBS. She also loved to dance, especially with her husband George. As a young mother, Mrs. Heller was involved with her son’s schooling. She was the P.T.O. President of the Greenhalge School. There, she raised money through a “Country Store” to help needy students and families attain needed supplies. Together with her husband, they ran an end of the year class trip to Plymouth Plantation; a fun outing where students would learn something at the same time! Mrs. Heller was responsible for making sure everyone had a lunch and a drink, making all of the sandwiches herself. During her tenure, the students were also able to watch, via television, the launching of Alan Shepard and John Glenn into space and the history books. It was her caring devotion and love of learning that made her involvement so special. Some of her other pass times included Crewel Embroidery and collecting Lowell Postcards. Two very memorable moments in her life were having had the opportunity to meet President Harry Truman and President John F. Kennedy. No one was more important to Dorothy than her family. She adored her two grandsons and lived long enough to see them both graduate from college. Mrs. Heller is survived by her son, James G. Heller and his wife Karen Davidson-Heller of Lowell; her grandsons, Jonathan T. Heller of Quincy and Aaron J. Heller of Lowell; her sister, Ann Reynolds of Lowell; a sister-in-law, Madeline (Farrell) Reynolds of Lowell; her nieces and nephews, Thomas Reynolds, Robert Reynolds, Nancy Reynolds, Martha Reynolds, Mary Reynolds, Kathleen Reynolds, and Thomas Reynolds, Jr. Dot also leaves her dear friends, Paul and Dawn McLaughlin of Pelham, NH. Mrs. Heller was the sister of the late Thomas and Henry Reynolds; sister-in-law of the late Dorothy (Regan) Reynolds; aunt of the late Charles Reynolds, Barbara Reynolds, and John Reynolds. FUNERAL NOTICE HELLER—In Lowell, May 19, 2014 at Lowell General Hospital, Dorothy I. “Dot” (Reynolds) Heller, age 90, the loving wife of the late George A. Heller. Family and friends may call at the FAY McCABE FUNERAL HOME, 105 MOORE STREET, LOWELL, on FRIDAY MORNING from 9 A.M. until 10:30 A.M. Mrs. Heller’s Funeral Mass will follow on FRIDAY MORNING at 11 o’clock at THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH (Lower Church) 144, East Merrimack St. Lowell. Burial will take place in St. Mary’s Cemetery, N. Tewksbury. As an expression of sympathy, in lieu of flowers, donations in Mrs. Heller’s memory may be made to The Wish Project, 1A Foundry Street, Lowell, MA 01852 or at www.thewishproject.org/donate. ARRANGEMENTS BY THE FAY McCABE FUNERAL DIRECTORS, 978-459-9222. www.faymccabe.com

Mrs. Dorothy I. Heller

March 31, 1924 - May 19, 2014