Obituary of Dorothy I. Montesano

     Dorothy Irene Montesano of North Utica and Raquette Lake, passed away on Saturday, April 19, after a brief illness.

    

    Dorothy was born in Utica, on November 15, 1926, the daughter of Earl N. and Katherine Cullen Hughes. She attended Utica Public Schools and the Utica School of Commerce. In 1946, on a New Year’s Eve blind date she met and soon thereafter married the love of her life, Robert (Bob) A. Montesano. Together they shared a storybook marriage of 62 years until his passing in 2008. After raising three children, Dorothy rejoined the workforce, initially at Fraternal Composite Service and The Boston Store in Utica before entering the banking field, where she served with Oneida National Bank and its successor banks for nearly three decades.

    

     She was an excellent cook and her liberal use of salt reflected her overall zest for life. She loved golf and was proud to have played into her eighties. She enjoyed every opportunity to gather with loved ones, especially at the family camp at Raquette Lake.

    

     Dorothy loved dogs and cats, and served on the auxiliary board of Anita’s Stevens Swan Humane Society. Her home always included four-legged members of the family, especially Boston Terriers. In her final years, her feline companion, Evander, was constantly at her side.  She was also active in the North Utica Genetaska Club, where she helped establish the North Utica Senior Citizens Center. Dorothy grew up in Holy Cross Episcopal Church in Utica and most recently was a member of New Hartford Presbyterian Church, but for most of her life she was a member of the Moravian Church of the Good Shepherd in New Hartford.

    

     Besides her parents and husband Bob, Dorothy was predeceased by an infant daughter who died at childbirth; three brothers, Lee, Art and Ed Hughes, and a sister, Violet Noyes.

    

     She is survived by a daughter, Barbara (Tim) Jaggers of Liverpool, NY; two sons, Robert E. (Lynn) of Utica, and Mark (Shelley) of Evans City, PA.; two granddaughters, Michelle Montesano of Saratoga Springs, NY and Suly Jaggers of Liverpool; two grandsons, Anthony Montesano (Maureen Cook) of Clay, NY and Max Montesano of Evans City; two great-granddaughters, Gianna Montesano and Marissa Montesano, both of Clay; and a special friend, Ceil Hamel of North Utica. She also leaves several nieces and nephews.

    

     The family is grateful for the compassionate care Dorothy received from the nurses on the fifth and seventh floors at Wynn Hospital in Utica.

    

     In Dorothy’s memory please consider Anita’s Stevens Swan Humane Society, Raquette Lake Fire Department or New Hartford Presbyterian Church.

 

     There are no calling hours. Private arrangements are under the direction of Heintz Funeral Service, Inc., N. Utica.

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