Dorothea Adeline Northey

Born and raised in Newark, Ohio. Bellingham resident 69 years. Preceded in death by husband John R. Northey, married 68 years, mother to eight, grandmother to twelve, great grandmother, still counting. Charter member Bellingham chapter of Sweet Adelines chorus, co-founder of local gluten intolerance support group, active member of Birchwood Presbyterian Church. Adored by all who knew her. Mom’s life was characterized by love, humor, music and service. She was an only child in a farming community, with close friends living miles away, and so vowed (without Dad’s knowledge) that, given the chance, she would have a big family. As each child was born, and each new grandchild or extended family member added, her love and appreciation grew to embrace the new addition – a true matriarch. Each had a unique relationship with Mom, and she loved each new voice as it was added to the family conversations. Mom lived the homily that ends “but woman’s work is never done”. As her children grew, she could be found at all hours of the day preparing food, sewing clothing, planting, weeding or harvesting in the garden, canning or freezing fruits and vegetables, helping with homework, adapting weekly to John’s rotating shifts at work, and generally managing the lives and schedules of a family of ten. And still she found the time to be a charter member and charter president of the Bellingham chapter of Sweet Adelines, to sing in the chorus and sing tenor in the popular “Sugar ‘n Spice” quartet. A skilled pianist, she was often called upon to act as accompanist for church functions and to help the quartet or chorus find their way through intricate four way harmony arrangements. She was, for several years, a reliable mainstay in the soprano section of the Birchwood Presbyterian Church choir, and was active as a deacon and in community outreach for the church. In 1999 she and Mary Lou Richardson co-founded the Bellingham Gluten Intolerance Group, which supports awareness and education in the community and whose membership currently numbers over 400. Mom loved to laugh, and could usually see the humorous side of most situations (when appropriate). She taught her children this important life skill by example, and we all learned to look forward to that extra little twinkle that escaped those beautiful blue eyes if the joke was a little sly. We’re gonna miss that funny lady. Graveside service Friday, 10:30 AM at Woodlawn Cemetery, 5977 Northwest Dr., Ferndale, a celebration of her life at 2:00 at Birchwood Presbyterian Church in Cordata, 400 Meadowbrook Ct., Bellingham. Memorial donations may be made to Birchwood Presbyterian Church for the New Music Fund.

Dorothea Adeline Northey

March 17, 1925 - May 24, 2015