Dorothy Jean Dorian Crowley, collected antiques
Dorothy Jean Dorian Crowley, 97, of Lewes passed away peacefully Thursday, Jan. 6, 2020, at home in her sleep. "Dodie," as she was known to her family and friends, was born July 20, 1924, in Johnstown, Pa. She was the daughter of the late Kenneth Thomas Dorian Sr. and Laura (Arentrue) Dorian.
Dodie was a graduate of Westmont-Upper Yoder High School and Cambria-Rowe Business College. Prior to her marriage to Thomas Nathaniel Crowley Jr. (TN), she was employed as a payroll accountant for U.S. Steel in Johnstown. After her marriage, she became involved in many volunteer endeavors in Johnstown, some of which were St. Clement Church and Mercy Hospital Auxiliary. Dodie's hobbies included golfing, collecting antiques and home decorating. Her home decorations were featured twice in Southern Living Magazine. After the birth of her son, Thomas Michael Crowley (Tom), she volunteered at her son's schools, including being a lunch lady in the cafeteria.
Once TN retired as general manager at Bethlehem Steel in Johnstown and Tom graduated from Notre Dame Law School, Dodie and TN relocated to Whispering Pines, N.C. in 1982. She enjoyed golfing, cooking, and entertaining there, but missed the Delaware coastal area. In 1994, Dodie and TN relocated to Lewes to a home in Shipcarpenter Square. Later, in 2004, they moved to Marina Drive. in Lewes. In both places, she continued to decorate, cook and entertain. Due to health issues for both Dodie and TN, Tom assisted them in moving to a condo in the Villages of Five Points. In her condo, Dodie read crime fiction, especially Laura Lippman, and the Sunday Washington Post, and did crossword puzzles. She was an avid watcher of Days of Our Lives, CNN and ducks in the pond outside. As a shut-in member of St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Lewes, she enjoyed weekly visits from Father Larry Hofer.
In addition to her parents, Dodie was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Thomas Nathaniel Jr., and her brother, Kenneth Thomas Dorian Jr. She is survived by her cherished son, Tom and his partner Minnie Waters Shorter; her dear niece, Susan Dorian Jacob and her husband Michael; and a wide variety of relatives and friends.
Services are private. Arrangements have been entrusted to Parsell Funeral Home and Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, Lewes. The family plans to host a safe Celebration of Life gathering once circumstances permit.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions in Dodie's name to St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Lewes.
Visit Dodie's Life Memorial webpage and sign her virtual guestbook at parsellfuneralhomes.com.
