Dorothy R. Horstkotte

Dorothy R. Horstkotte (December 20, 1943- March 17, 2024)
Dorothy Reynolds Horstkotte was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend.
Dorothy was born in Plattsburgh, NY to Alma and Mose Rabideau. She attended Altoona Central Schools with her 6 siblings from a large farm family in Chazy, NY. She came to the Capital Region to attend the Ellis School of Nursing. After her 1965 nursing graduation, she worked for Ellis as a nurse and then as a teacher in the Ellis School of Nursing. There she met Dr. Preston Reynolds and they were married in 1970. Together they traveled to Haiti to do Medical Missionary Work with the Catholic Church and then the world over as tourists. In 1973 their daughter Lynn Reynolds Makrin was born. As a family they spent time sailing, fishing, and canoeing on Galway Lake. Education and learning were always a priority for Dorothy. She returned to college even with a young daughter to earn a Bachelors of Science degree from Russell Sage College and a Masters of Science in Education from St. Rose Graduate School. This led to her career in education beginning in Schenectady at the Oneida Middle School where she taught health and science and ending in Duanesburg, where she served as the school nurse and health teacher. Dorothy is predeceased by her parents and first husband Preston W. Reynolds, MD of Schenectady, NY to whom she was married for 23 years.
After Preston's passing, Dorothy continued volunteer community activities which included ushering at Proctor's Theater in Schenectady, New York. There she met Dr. Edward H. Horstkotte of Niskayuna. He was on Aisle 3 and she was on Aisle 4. They were married in 1995 and recently celebrated their 28th wedding anniversary. Dorothy retired from teaching in 1994 to pursue home health care work as an RN with Rely Health and as a nurse and RN Trainer at the Kingsway Arms Nursing Center in Schenectady.
As snowbirds for many years, Dorothy and Ed enjoyed traveling to Fort Myers, Florida for the winter months where he had a timeshare on Sanibel Island. She became addicted to shelling to the point that they brought home many boxes of shells. The next step was to rent a month in a condo in the Landings, a gated community in Fort Myers. They became very fond of the Landings and one day bought a condo. The Landings community was vibrant and they spent many happy years there enjoying a free boat slip in the marina on the river, tennis, a par three golf course, the Mexican Train Domino group, pool parties, book club, and many good friends.
Dorothy and Ed adopted Tanner, a Golden Retriever rescue from Hurricane Katrina, and became involved with the local Golden Group. Molly, their current retriever, who does not retrieve, but has been trained as a Pet Therapy dog. With Dorothy as her handler, together they worked in the Lee County, Florida public schools. She is the most loveable dog they have ever had.
Dorothy loved to travel and together with Ed, they traveled to Africa, Panama, China, Tibet, Costa Rica, Greece, Turkey, Albania, Montenegro and Croatia. She learned to snorkel and enjoy the ocean at Ed's timeshare on Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands. Their other adventure trips included helicopter hiking, white water rafting in the Canadian Rockies, and hiking in Switzerland.
Dorothy also enjoyed spending time at Ed's camp on Sacandaga Lake. Her passion there was to split wood for our fireplace insert.
In the recent summers she was active in a tennis group that played every morning at Central Park in Schenectady. This became a multi-generational event as Dorothy's grandchildren joined in the fun for the past 4 summers.
Together Dorothy and Ed have been constant supporters of many organizations through their charitable giving. They have a special place in their hearts for the City Mission of Schenectady, NY. Together with her daughter Lynn R. Makrin, son-in-law Keith and two grandchildren, Katherine and Ryan, Dorothy and Ed could be seen weekly serving meals at the City Mission Community Meal on Thursday evenings.
Saturdays were spent on elaborate car rides all over the capital region to local garage sales to collect coats to donate to the mission. Dorothy's coat collection total to date is 2140. Other summer Saturdays were spent in the strawberry and blueberry patches of the region picking for friends and family. She would pick more than 100 pounds of blueberries every year. Each summer the women and children living at the City Mission Family Life Center would join Dorothy, Ed and Molly on these outings. It was great fun for all!
Dorothy's faith and life of giving were present in everything she did. She raised Lynn at Christ Community Reformed Church in Clifton Park, NY, continued to worship at the First Reformed Church of Scotia, NY, and finally became a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Schenectady. Dorothy served as nurse and volunteer cabin counselor at Camp Fowler, served on numerous church committees, participated faithfully in Bible studies, loved to sing and worship, and asked everyone she met for coats. Her faith led her to heaven on the morning of Sunday, March 17th, 2024 after a brief illness.
Dorothy's deep Christian faith is a comfort to those she has left behind. They include her husband Edward H. Horstkotte, daughter Lynn R. Makrin and son-in-law Keith, grandchildren Katherine and Ryan and beloved golden, Molly as well as numerous friends, family made through community, and loved ones. We, Dorothy's family, cannot begin to thank everyone for the love, outpouring of support, and kindness you all have shown us at this time. Please join us to celebrate Dorothy's life and legacy of giving in the following ways:
Memorial plans include an Old-Fashioned Hymn Sing to be held at the Zion Lutheran Church, 153 Nott Terrace, Schenectady, NY 12308 on Saturday afternoon May 11th at 3pm with a brief reception to follow. Second, a Community Wide Coat Collection for the City Mission of Schenectady to be held from 10am to Noon on Saturday, June 8th in the parking lot of Zion Lutheran Church 153 Nott Terrace, Schenectady, NY 12308.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Dorothy's name to the City Mission of Schenectady, New York at https://citymission.com ; Zion Lutheran Church of Schenectady, NY at https://www.zion.lc ; Camp Fowler at https://www.campfowler.org ; the Backpack Program of the First Reformed Church of Scotia, NY https://firstreformedscotia.org; or the Capital District Youth Chorale at https://www.cdyc.org. You may reach the family by email at: Lynn Makrin lynnrmakrin@gmail.com or Ed Horstkotte at ehorstko@gmail.com.