Dorothy Theresa (Dottie) Maher, 79, of Port Monmouth, passed away Sept. 26, 2024, in Red Bank. She was born in New York City, lived in Hell’s Kitchen and attended Sacred Heart Catholic School. In 1965, she married the love of her life, Thomas Maher and they started a family in North Bergen. They eventually moved to Middletown.
Dottie worked as a computer lab coordinator for Brookdale Community College for many years before retiring and moving to Ocala, Florida, in 2000. There she dedicated herself to the health and well-being of others while being a devout member of Queen of Peace Catholic Church. In 2024 she moved back to New Jersey to be near her family.
As the daughter of one of the founding members of The Irish American Teamsters, Dottie was very proud of her Irish heritage. She was a passionate animal lover and avid supporter of the ASPCA and other animal rescues.
Surviving are her two sons, Thomas Maher and Timothy Maher (wife Liz); daughter Tammy Ragusa (husband Frank); three grandchildren, Timothy Maher Jr. (TJ), Tyler Maher and Markus Ragusa; brother Edmund O’Connell; two sisters, Patricia Peragine and Joyce Grogan; and many beloved nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Dottie was preceded in death by her husband of 17 years, Thomas Maher; sister Martha Harris; parents, Edmund and Dorothy O’Connell; brothers-in-law, Nicholas Peragine and Thomas Grogan; sister-in-law Kathleen O’Connell and many, many fur babies.
Visitation was held Oct. 3 at John F. Pfleger Funeral Home Road, Middletown. A funeral Mass was offered Oct. 4 at The Church of Saint Catherine Laboure, Middletown.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution in Dottie’s name to Fosters Future of Keansburg at fostersfuture.org.
Arrangements are under the direction of John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, Middletown.
The article originally appeared in the October 10 – 16, 2024 print edition of The Two River Times.
