Dorothy "Great" Kildea

Dorothy "Great" C. Kildea, 89 of Harrington, DE (formerly a longtime resident of Rutledge, PA ) passed away in the early morning of Monday September 16, 2024 at the Delaware Hospice Center in Milford, DE. She was born December 24, 1934 in Philadelphia to the late Francis & Dorothy (McGrath) Remsch. A graduate of West Catholic Girls High School in Philadelphia in 1953. She was a mother and homemaker, a Philadelphia Police Department Crossing Guard, and she went onto graduate from the McCarrie School for Dental Technologies as a dental technician for the Fort Washington Dental Lab retiring after twenty-five years.
A woman known by many names, Mom, Gra, Sis, Aunt Sis and Dot by family and friends. However, her great-grandchildren called her "Great" for short and this name stuck and this is how she was introduced and known around town.
All friends and family were welcome to visit and to sit in her kitchen. The words are you hungry? Do you want something to eat? No party or gathering would be complete without her Kielbasa and Sauerkraut cooked to perfection and the steamed shrimp as only she could make. Always the center of her family, her brother Frank, would visit each Saturday to talk about sales at the store, have a beer or two and then repeat the same conversation the following week. Dorothy's two sisters, Nancy Bruno of Ashland, MA and Marie Funchion of Aldan, PA would speak daily. Never having much to say that hasn't been said before, would have a check in, a "love you" and "talk to you later" conversation.
Her daughter Dorothy "Dot or Dottie" Pierce (formerly Doughty) and husband Ronald Pierce cared for her during the last years of life. Dottie arranged for her Mom to attend Pace Your Life Adult Care center in Milford, DE. She would go to the center many days each week to do activities with other members and made strong friendships.
Along with her daughter and son-in-law, Dorothy is survived by four grandchildren, Timothy Doughty, Jr.(Nicole), Sharon Doughty-Fuller (Shawn), Susan Doughty-Fagan (Tom) and Dee Doughty-Freeman. Great-Grandchildren are Ryan, Matthew, Alyssa, Carlie, Mackenzie, Danny, Ethan and Andrew along with many nieces and nephews.
Family and friends are invited to Dorothy's visitation on Monday September 23, 2024 from 10 to 11 am at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Franklin Ave., Morton. Funeral Mass will follow at 11 am. Interment in East Lawn Cemetery, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania.