Dorothy (Dot) Dunn

Dorothy (Dot) Dunn, age 95, passed away peacefully on January 10, 2026, in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. She was born on May 29, 1930, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dot is survived by her children: Kathleen Cummiskey; Maureen (Jim) Czepiel; Denise (Frank) Miller; Patrick J. Dunn Jr. (Lora); Francis J. Dunn; and Sharon Smith (Seth Shore). She is also survived by her grandchildren: Christopher (Carrie) Cummiskey, Kimberly (Greg) Jacobson, Megan Czepiel, Kate Czepiel, Michael Gentile, Dana (Eric James) Gentile, Patrick J. Dunn III (PJ), Blake Miller, Connor Smith, and Riley Smith; and her great-grandchildren: Abby Cummiskey, Olivia Jacobson, and Owen Jacobson. She is further survived by a host of nieces, nephews, and friends who will miss her dearly.

Dot discovered early that strength and motion were part of who she was—an athlete whose energy never left her. Strong-willed, and at times delightfully sassy, Dot moved through life with confidence, humor and a poem always at the ready. There was rarely a moment when she wasn’t reciting a verse from memory, perfectly timed and delivered with flair.

Dot was a natural athlete from a young age. She was a city swimming champion at just 12 years old, played basketball and swam competitively in high school, and worked as a lifeguard—already demonstrating the independence and discipline that defined her life. Her love of movement stayed with her always. At age 87, she proudly demonstrated her jump-rope skills and tap dancing to one of her great-grandchildren, proving that age had very little say in what she could still do.

On January 27, 1951, Dot married her devoted husband, Patrick “Pat” Dunn, at St. Edmond’s Catholic Church in Philadelphia. Together, Pat and Dot raised their six children in Folcroft and Wallingford. In the 1990s, they retired to North Port, Florida, where they enjoyed their later years together. Dot returned to Pennsylvania in 2024. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, as well as her parents and all eight of her siblings.

As a mother, Dot was always present, and usually behind the wheel. Known for her “lead foot,” she never hesitated to drive her children wherever they needed to go, often with impressive speed and determination. She also spent many years deeply involved at the local swim club, working various jobs during swim meets and serving as a board member, always willing to step in and help.

Dot was an avid reader with a sharp mind and an even sharper wit. She taught her grandchildren how to play cards; skills that, by their own admission, have served them especially well at the casino. She loved sharing what she knew whether it was a poem or a well-earned life lesson.

Dot will be remembered for her strength, her independence, her humor, and her unmistakable presence. She lived fully, loved fiercely, and left behind stories that will continue to be told, often with a smile and quite possibly, a poem.

Family and friends are invited to honor Dot's life and legacy on Friday, February 6, 2026, at Saint John's Chrysostom Church in Wallingford, PA 19086. Visitation will take place from 9:30-10:15 AM followed by the funeral mass at 10:30 AM. Inurnment will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a future date. Charitable contributions may be made in Dot's honor to American Cancer Society.