Dorothy Mary Opie (Ms. Opie) was born December 31, 1938, In Vallhala, NY to the late Deacon Fred and Deaconess Lucy (Dimmie) Opie, Sr. She was the youngest of her three siblings, and the only sister, affectionately called “Siss” by many of her family members and friends. As a child, Dorothy attended Tarrytown Public Schools and was raised up in Shiloh Baptist Church, where she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at an early age. She was actively involved in the church and enjoyed singing in the choir. She graduated from North Tarrytown High School in 1957 and went on to complete training at APEX Beauty School in Harlem, NY, obtaining a certificate and license in cosmetology.
She briefly worked in her dream profession as a hairdresser and cosmetologist, but soon thereafter pursued another professional opportunity to obtain a clerical position with Westchester County Medical Center University Hospital, formerly known as Grasslands Hospital. She loved working at the hospital. She was a stellar employee whose smile warmed the lobby where she welcomed visitors at the reception desk. She faithfully worked for the county for over 30 years until she retired and dutifully transitioned her life to become a caregiver, taking on the full-time task of caring for her ailing, aging mother in 1995.
In caring for her mother, Ms. Opie was a servant’s servant who humbly denied herself, honored her “father and mother,” never complained, and truly demonstrated how to put one’s faith into action. Ms. Opie oversaw her mother’s care for a total of seven years until her mother passed in the home.
After her mother passed, Ms. Opie was able to enjoy a few pleasures of life. One of her favorite pasttimes was taking a drive in her car with a friend or traveling and attending luncheons with members of the Tarrytown Senior Citizens – in which she was proud to be named amongst.
As twilight years came upon her, her memory began to fade; however, her faith never wavered. She would state and preach steadfastly, “I don’t know how, and I don’t know when, but I know that the Lord will make a way somehow. It’s not my business to know how or when – all I need to know is that He will make a way,” And the Lord made a way. As she desired, she lived out her twilight years in her home under the care of “an angel that God sent her,” Ms. Thais Phelts, who came to live with, and be employed by Ms. Opie. She became like the daughter she never had.
After suffering from a severe, crippling stroke, Ms. Opie was hospitalized at Phelps Memorial Hospital, where she soon slipped into a deep sleep, and made a peaceful transition into eternal rest. Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Enter into the master’s joy.
Ms. Opie leaves to cherish her memory two nephews, Marshall Noel (Margaret) Opie of Clinton, MD, and Frederick Douglass (Tina) Opie of Natick, MA; one great-nephew and one great-niece, Kennedy Opie and Chase Opie of Natick, MA; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents: three brothers – Fred Opie, Jr., Robert Lee Opie and Earl Washington Opie; and one nephew, Randolph Opie.
The Entire Staff of Lee's Funeral Home, LLC respects that the Opie family entrusted the care of their loved one to us, and that they value the level of service & attention our funeral home provides. We are honored, in turn, to provide comfort, assistance and service to the Opie family during their time of bereavement.
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