In loving memory of

Dorothy A. Keckler
October 19, 1932 - October 7, 2020


Dorothy A. "Dodi" (Gonos) Keckler, 87, of Middletown, passed away on Wednesday, October 7, 2020, in Newport Hospital, Newport, RI. She married George E. Keckler Jr. at St. Simon Stock in New York, NY on July 9, 1955.

Dorothy was born in the Bronx, NY. She was the daughter of the late George and Martha (VonDiezelski) Gonos.
She is survived by her children, George R. Keckler of Middletown and Kimberly Keckler and her spouse, Knut Streitlien, of Jamaica Plain, MA.
Dorothy was the sister of the late George E. Gonos of New City, NY.
Dorothy was a conscientious worker, and had a long career working for International Paper Company, the U.S. Air Force, General Electric, and as an accountant for the U.S. Navy.
Her family and friends remember her for her unyielding kindness, generosity, honesty, thoughtfulness, and gratefulness. She loved with all her heart and loved to have fun. She was fiercely devoted to her family and always doing something for others

Relatives and friends may visit with the family Saturday morning, October 17, 2020, from 8:00 AM until 9:00 AM in the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport, RI.

Masks and social distancing are required.

Funeral services will follow on Saturday morning from the Memorial Funeral Home, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM at St. Lucy's Church, 909 West Main Road, Middletown, RI. Burial will follow at Middletown Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that donations be sent to https://gifts.rescue.org/product/education/year-school-girl

Tributes

Arlene Souto Blight wrote on Oct 21, 2020:

"To the Keckler family, I worked in Dodi\'s department at NUWC and always remember her kindness and willingness to help. I used to see her at mass at St. Lucy\' and she always had a smile and kind word. May she be reunited with her loved ones in heaven. "

Harold M wrote on Oct 17, 2020:

"I worked with Dorothy at NUSC and she was the nicest person I ever met."

Jane Kelly wrote on Oct 16, 2020:

"Our sincere condolences for the loss of such a sincere, wonderful, loving person. Bill and I remember both her and your dad from the old \"shipyard\" days. She was always such a class act. You should feel very positive for all of your support over these last years in taking care of your mom. Keeping her at home in a comfortable familiar environment and daily care made it all possible. We both know how time consuming this has been but you have done the right thing for her and we know she truly appreciated it. She was blessed to have you there with her. Our thoughts and prayers are with you, love, Bill and Jane"

Diane Macedo wrote on Oct 14, 2020:

"I want to convey my sympathy to the Keckler family at this sad time of loss of a wonderful woman. I knew her as \"Dodi\" at St. Lucy\'s Church, but I also knew her from my deceased husband, Joe. He worked at NUWC and spoke often of her, and we would speak after Mass. When my husband became ill with Parkinsonism (Parkinson\'s Disease Plus Syndromes), Dodi was very supportive and kind to both of us. When he needed to go into a nursing home for 24/7 care, Dodi would send me notes of encouragement and support. I will always remember her kindness. Because of the Covid Virus and being a senior citizen, I will not be attending her funeral but will be praying and thinking of you on Saturday. I like to think that she is reunited with my husband in heaven. Peace to you."

Mary Ann Keckler wrote on Oct 13, 2020:

"My condolences to the family of My sister in law Dody Keckler. A women who was generous to others and always willing to help. Rest In Peace. Mary Ann Keckler"

Yvonne Coleman wrote on Oct 13, 2020:

"My heartfelt condolences and prayers to the family- It was a pleasure to know and work with Dodi a during her years at Nusc now nuwc. She was very kind and sweet. Rest in paradise- from yvonne coleman-payroll"

Denise Rosa wrote on Oct 13, 2020:

"Kymberlee, Such a beautiful tribute to a special woman. My mother and I worked with your mom at NUWC, Dodi was quite the character and definitely one of a kind. She was always entertaining us. We lost touch due to life events but she was thought of so often. You and your family are in out thoughts. Peggy & Denise"

Kymberlee Keckler wrote on Oct 11, 2020:

"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpl4if07ics"

Kymberlee Keckler wrote on Oct 11, 2020:

"I\'ll never recover from my mother\'s death. I suppose I knew that someday she would leave this earth and I am grateful that she lasted almost 88 years. But it\'s still so very hard for me. My brother and I could see her health failing over her last year, but I denied all the signs of her being closer to the end - dementia, sleeping longer, not eating, losing lots of weight, age regression, incontinence, heavy breathing, and falling. Over the past few years, I was afraid to travel far for fear that I wouldn\'t be able to come home quickly. Whenever I visitied or called, I tried to give her something to look forward to keep her going...somehow hoping I could help her last forever. My mother was my strongest supporter ? there to encourage me when I needed it, to cheer me on in every endeavor, and to celebrate my successes. She feed me, clothed me, and prayed for my health and success. She comforted me in times of need. She nursed my wounds and soothed my emotional setbacks. She defended me against injustices and followed up to ensure that I recovered. She saw the best in me and fostered its growth. She sought fun activities and laughed at life\'s oft ridiculousness. My Mom, Dorothy, was unyielding in her kindness, generosity, honesty, thoughtfulness, and gratefulness. All of my friends loved her too. She loved with all heart, was a hard worker, and liked to have fun. Dorothy approached life with spontaneity, optimism, and joy. She always encouraged me to try new things - and appropriately steered me toward chemistry when I announced I wanted to be an opera singer at age 8. She loved country music and rhythm & blues. She grew up in the Bronx, NY and her accent would come out stronger when she was with her older brother (or when my brother or I did something to make her mad). We enjoyed going to plays, movies, and concerts together. We looked forward to strawberry season. She taught me how to budget, the importance of charitable giving, and to be a good speller ? I still remember the song we made up in 1970 so that I could remember how to spell \'please.\' P-L-E--A-S-E. I never ever questioned my mother\'s love for me. She was always there to support me - typing papers for me into the wee hours of the night, doing my laundry, driving me to school when I missed the bus ? whatever I needed. I know I am fortunate to have had such a great mother and she has always been a source of my strength. I don\'t feel I can ever recover from losing her. I regret being a brat. If I didn\'t have her as my mother, I would choose her as a friend ? and I now realize that I have. I\'m grateful for having so many kind and thoughtful friends ? the gifts of food and flowers, driving me to see her, cards, texts, e-mails, and calls all fill my heart and help soothe me at this time of tremendous grief. The traits that I love about my mother are exhibited in my friends. She lives on. I was able to see her on September 28, 2020. She had several strokes on October 3, 2020 and was hospitalized on October 4, 2020. I went to see her in the hospital on October 5, 2020. She said \"Oh Kymmie! You came so far!\" - always grateful as if an 80 minute drive was on par with a flight from Sydney. She touched my head and gently said ?Don\'t cry, Kymmie? and then we each said ?I love you very much.? She then struggled to say something, but I didn\'t understand her even after repeating it thrice. It sounded like ?chocolate flowers,? ?Chocolate for us,? or ?chocolate flourish.? Deciphering this message haunts me. A dear friend took me to visit again on October 7, 2020, but sadly I was a few hours too late. My brother and I sat with her awhile before going to make funeral arrangements. I\'m glad she didn\'t suffer and didn\'t get cancer (one of her fears). While I\'m not religious, I hope she will be reunited with all those who have passed that she loves and love her back. Imagining her happy gives me some peace. Her daughter, Kymberlee"

Rosel Provost wrote on Oct 10, 2020:

"keckler family So sorry for your loss. What a lovely lady and a great co-worker. Rest in peace. Rosel Provost"

Rosel Provost wrote on Oct 10, 2020:

"To the family of Dodi Very sorry for your loss. I worked with her on the base in the Supply Department. Heaven has received another angel. Rosel Provost"