McNeill, Dorothy M.

Fairport – April 10, 2018. Predeceased by sister, Diane Ravas. Survived by loving husband, William “Bill”; children, Sue (Chris) Ward, Lori (Brad) Clapp and Matthew (Suzanne) McNeill; grandchildren, Kelly, Sarah, Ryan, Meghan, Ben, Jackson, Elizabeth and Jennifer; sisters, Barbara and Elaine DeVencenzo; brother-in-law, Bob Ravas; niece, Debbie Lamanna and nephews, Chris and Brian Ravas.

A Funeral Mass will be held Saturday, June 16th at 10:00 AM at Church of the Transfiguration.

God, family, music:  These were Dorothy’s passions, and she love all three dearly.

Born and raised in Canastota NY, she was blessed with three sisters and a very large extended family. Living right next to the town’s only Catholic church, Sunday mornings often saw the kitchen in the DeVencenzo house filled with relatives coming by for a cup of coffee. For much of Dorothy’s life, she and her sisters lived within two hours of each other and their home town.  Years after Dorothy married Bill, the four often took “sister trips” together just to enjoy each other and have some fun adventures.

Dorothy and Bill had three children, to whom they gave a happy childhood in Fairport, and brought into the Church to help nurture their faith. Much time was spent with Dorothy’s parents and sisters and their children – with many visits many to Canastota. There were family vacations to experience different parts of New England.

The family of five then moved from Fairport to Dallas.  There, Dorothy shared her beautiful singing voice with the church choir for many years and worked as a book keeper. The family made many friends, enjoyed some more fun trips and hosted many wonderful “Santa Parties” as the children grew up and started heading off to college.  All of Dorothy’s children continued the “Santa Party” tradition in their own homes.

By the time Bill and Dorothy moved back to Fairport the children were married and starting to have kids of their own.  Always living near her own family, it was difficult for Dorothy to be so far away from her kids and nine grandkids, but God led her to the Church of the Transfiguration, where she and Bill took on the leadership of the fledgling Empty Nesters Club, and continued for 20 years, enjoying faith and fun  among their friends.  Dorothy also sang in choirs at Transfiguration and in Chili, and she and Bill traveled extensively during this time in their life.

Music was always a part of her life. From Frank Sinatra to Elvis to Neil Diamond to John Denver to Josh Groban, music was as beautiful to her ears as flowers and nature were to her eyes. An avid photographer later in life, if her photos weren’t of family they were of flowers, trees, water – all the places where she saw God’s gifts.

In addition to her large family and a long, fulfilling life, God’s gift to Dorothy was her loyal and loving Bill, her husband of 59 years, who was at her side and caring for her right up until her death.

We say goodbye to her now as we return her to the earth and release her spirit, so she can be with those she loved who went before her, and together they can enjoy beauty and music together in peace and God’s love.

“Then sings my soul, my savior God, to thee: How great thou art, how great thou art!”