Dorothy Spath

Spath, Dorothy
MANSFIELD, Mass. - Dorothy R. "Dotty" (Ritchie) Spath, age 73, of Mansfield, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday December 13, 2025 at Boston Medical Center-South in Brockton. Born in Flushing, N.Y., on May 24, 1952, to the late Mabel D. Ritchie and the late John F. Ritchie, she was the beloved wife of Charles M. Spath, to whom she wed on August 22, 1981.
After moving to the Albany, N.Y. area in 1962, she attended the private Catholic Schools of St. Pius X and the Marylrose Academy (a/k/a Academy of the Holy Names). Upon graduating from high school, she attended Newton College of the Sacred Heart, and after two years, she transferred to Siena College where she received multiple degrees. After her college graduation she worked for the Bankers Trust Company and then worked for the N.Y.S. Higher Education Services Corp. Dotty was a former member of the Junior League of Albany.
Upon her relocation to Mansfield, Mass., she worked as a Teachers' Assistant Para-Professional assisting Special Needs children in the Mansfield School System. She was a parishioner of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Mansfield for 28 years. Dotty loved to travel to visit her relatives and friends in N.Y., N.C. and Fla., and to bake, especially her famous soft Chocolate Chip cookies.
In addition to her husband, Dotty is survived by her son, Brian Spath of Broad Brook, Conn.; and her daughter, Kristin Spath Gordon; and her husband, Craig Gordon, of Mansfield. She is also survived by her three brothers, John E. Ritchie (Chris), Kenneth D. Ritchie (Chris) and Stephen M. Ritchie (Lisa). As well, she is survived by her brothers-in-law, Jack Spath (Carol), John Zagata, Roger Rosenthal, James Spath (Maryanne), Edward Spath (Anne), Timothy Spath (Jill), William Spath (Janet), Thomas Spath (Marybeth); and her sisters-in-law, Joan Krege (Chris) and Margaret Preston (Joel). Dotty was predeceased by her sisters-in-law, Marybeth Spath Zagata and Anne Spath Rosenthal. She is also survived by her Ritchie nieces and nephews, Meghan Mitchell, Claire, Andrea, Ken and Kyle Ritchie; plus many other cousins, nieces and nephews. She is also survived by many close friends in both Albany and Mansfield.
Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend visiting hours on Sunday, December 21, from 4 to 8 p.m,. at the Sherman & Jackson Funeral Home, 55 North Main St., Mansfield.
Her Funeral mass will be celebrated on Monday, December 22, at 11 a.m., in Saint Mary's Church, 330 Pratt St. (Route 106), Mansfield. Burial will take place on Tuesday, December 23, 12 p.m., at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, 3rd Ave. in Rensselaer, N.Y.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Dorothy's memory to The Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition, P.O. Box 202, Franklin, Mass. 02038.
To send her family a message of condolence, please visit www.shermanjackson.com