Dorothy Fehrnstrom
May 23rd, 2021
Dorothy Frances Fehrnstrom, 87, a longtime resident of Harwichport and Yarmouth, died peacefully Sunday, May 23, 2021 after a long illness. Born in Springfield, MA, she was the oldest of four daughters of Francis and Dorothy Lane of Chicopee, MA.
Dorothy was a 1951 graduate of Chicopee High School. She went on to obtain her nursing degree from Boston College and her RN license at Mercy Hospital in Springfield. She started her nursing career in 1954 at the former Cape Cod Hospital. Subsequently, she worked at Boston City Hospital, Beth Israel and New England Deaconess Hospitals and ended her career at Mass General Hospital.
Known to her friends as “Dotty,” she was a devoted mother to her four sons and took joy in spending time with her grandchildren when they visited her home on Nantucket Sound in Harwichport. Dorothy also served as a CCD teacher at Holy Trinity Church in West Harwich, and was a faithful Catholic who possessed a spirit of generosity and good will for all. She enjoyed tennis, golf, gardening, playing bridge with friends, trips to the beach with her children and grandkids and celebrating holidays, particularly Christmas when she adorned her home with festive decorations everywhere.
Dorothy was an excellent cook known for her talent in creating delicious meals and baked goods, including her famous Fourth of July flag cake. Dorothy was a fan of old movies, especially musicals, and loved going to arts and craft shows, never leaving empty handed. But the center of her life was family, and she looked forward to hosting large gatherings at her home and doting on the youngest children.
She is survived by her loving husband of 62 years, William; two sisters, Mary Palmer and Linda O’Brien; four sons, Kenneth and his wife Shay, Eric and his wife Kathy, Chris and his wife Julie, and Paul and his wife Mary; eight grandchildren, Bryan, Jason, James, Caroline, Will, Grace, Sarah and Jack; and niece and nephews.
Funeral services and burial will be private and held for immediate family. Donations in Dorothy’s memory can be made to Broad Reach Healthcare Hospice, 1455 Main Street (Rt. 28), Chatham, MA, 02633.