Obituary of Dorothy F. Hyde

Dorothy F. Hyde
Pine Bush, NY

Mother is a word that is often said numerous times a day. Definition from Webster: Bring up a child with care and affection.  Some adjectives: loving; compassionate; endearing; kind; protective; caring. Dorothy Frances Pondi Hyde was everyone of these but so much more. She was a mother like no other.  She was born March 9, 1933, to Stephen and Rose Pondi at their family home in Tompkins Cove NY on a very cold windy night.  The doctor was late and her grandmother delivered all 10 lbs. of her.  Dot was the youngest of three, joining her brother Stephen Pondi and Rose Pondi Huntoon.  Dot passed away peacefully shortly after midnight on June 13, 2023, at the New Paltz Rehabilitation Facility.   Dot moved with her family in September 1939 to Pine Bush, NY.  She went all through school in the Pine Bush School District.  When Dot was 18 years old, she began her career working at Chesnin Leis and Company then L&W Manufacturing Co. in Pine Bush.  She would work there until 1981. Dot also had a second career as a cafeteria worker at her beloved Pine Bush High School.  It was there that all the students would come to love Dottie the Lunch Lady. Dot was a life member of the Pine Bush Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary where she served as President and Vice President.  She also was a member of the Pine Bush Fire Department Drum and Bugle Corps from 1947 to 1951.  Dot also enjoyed, and of course, taught all her daughters, to bowl. She was President of the Rebel Women’s League as well as the Pioneer League, both at Hoe Bowl in Walden NY. Dot would meet the love of her life on Halloween 1952 when she and her friend were cruising around Pine Bush and took a ride in Boomer’s (Donal Hyde) 1951 blue Ford. After their courtship of two years, Don and Dot were married on October 16, 1955, at the Church of the Infant Saviour in Pine Bush.  

They were married for 63 years until Boomer passed away in 2019. Don and Dot were Pine Bush folks through and through. Nothing compared to Dot being a mother.  It was here that she truly excelled in earning all those descriptive words of Mother.  Boomer and Dot had five lovely daughters who they all named with “D”: Donna; Doreen; Diane; Daleann and Dottie.  Around Pine Bush, they were the 7 D Hyde’s.  Dot would teach the girls many things that a great mother would do: volunteer in your community; love your siblings; wash dishes by hand because Boomer didn’t believe in a dishwasher when he had 5 daughters; sew; cook; iron EVERYTHING, and of course, be kind to everyone no matter what.  Dot had a heart of gold and a smile to match for anyone she met. Dot was also a huge NY Yankee Fan; always quick to show off her life size cardboard cutout of Aaron Judge; always saying: “that’s my guy.” Dot is survived by her daughters: Donna Henke (Bernie) of Pine Bush; Doreen Lynch of Newburgh; Daleann Cruver of Coldenham and her namesake, Dottie Hentschel  (Bobby) of Pine Bush. She is predeceased by her parents, siblings, her beloved daughter Diane and son-in-law Bob Cruver. As much as she loved being a mother, nothing brought her more joy than being a grandmother to; Donal Henke (Kayla); Stephen Henke (Jena); Amy Frisbie (James); Gina Danon (Alex); Nicholas Trapini (Heather); Samantha Herrick (Kyle); Alex Goudreau (Amber); Matthew Cruver; Scott Cruver; Brett Cruver and Cole Hentschel.  Her and Boomer loved attending all their events: football, baseball and lacrosse games; tennis matches; scout events; band concerts and all their graduations.  Dot was super proud of all of them; especially when the great grandchildren started arriving Lily Henke; Ella, James and Owen Frisbie; Jocelyn and Derek Danon; Noah and Cora Trapini; Bryce, Sierra and Cooper Herrick and Levi Goudreau. Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Tuesday, June 20th, 2023 at 11 am, at her church of over 84 years, Church of the Infant Saviour, 22 Holland Ave., Pine Bush.  Burial will follow at New Prospect Cemetery, New Prospect Road, Pine Bush. The family will be having a Celebration of Life at the Pine Bush Firehouse immediately after. We would love for anyone who would like to come and share a story of our beloved Dottie Girl to join us for food; happy tears; hugs; photos and of course, sharing your smile when you talk about the best mother there ever was.

Donations may be made to the Pine Bush Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary, 2405 NY-52. Pine Bush, NY 12566; Church of the Infant Saviour, 22 Holland Ave., Pine Bush, NY 12586 or the Alzheimer’s Association, 2649 South Rd #101, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.wmgaganfuneralhome.com