Obituary: Dorothy Louise (Steider) Eichenberger

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Dorothy Louise (Steider) Eichenberger

DERBY — Dorothy L. (Steider) Eichenberger, 82, a native of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and more recently a resident of Prospect, passed on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2018 at Birmingham Health Center in Derby.

Dorothy was born in the city of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., on May 20, 1935 to the late Maximilian H. and Louise M. (Hosier) Steider. She was predeceased by her brother, Robert M. Steider, in 1978. Dorothy attended Poughkeepsie schools. She often retold stories of growing up on Prospect Street in the city, life during the Great Depression, and playing with her brother, friends, neighbors and cousins.

Dorothy was employed in the electronics manufacturing field for many years, but often recalled most fondly her early employment as a teen in the 1950s in the Poughkeepsie, N.Y., area at the Bardavon Theatre as a concession clerk and as an operator with the NY Telephone Co.

Dorothy maintained a keen interest throughout the years of Roosevelt-era history, sparked by a chance encounter with Eleanor D. Roosevelt in the 1950s while she was working as a cashier at the Empire Food Market in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Dorothy whole-heartedly loved her daughters and their husbands, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also maintained a lifelong affection for nature and animals, including her pet cats over the years, lilacs and the ocean.

Dorothy is survived by her two daughters, Debra L. Becampis (Anthony) of Wirtz, Va., and Wendy L. Noonan (Joseph) of Ooltewah, Tenn.; grandchildren, Anthony J. Becampis, Jr. of Wirtz, Va., David L. Becampis of Roanoke, Va., Kyle J. Noonan of Springfield, Ill., and Robert J. Noonan of Bridgeport; great-grandsons, Joshua Noonan and Ryan Noonan of Bridgeport.

Burial arrangements are being handled by Buckmiller Thurston Mengacci Funeral Home, 82 Fairview Ave., Naugatuck. There will be no calling hours and burial will be private as Dorothy requested.

Memorial donations may be made to the Danbury Animal Welfare Society (www.daws.org/gifts-and-memorial-donations), 147 Grassy Plain St., Bethel, CT 06801.

To leave an online condolence, visit www.buckmillerthurstonmengacci.com.