Dorothy P. Yessian

Dorothy P. Yessian, of Brewster, NY, died Friday June 12, 2015 at Danbury Hospital with her family by her side. She was 80 years old.

Dorothy was born November 28, 1934 in Dobbs Ferry, NY to John and Helene (Gerken) Petersen.
She and her parents moved to Brewster in 1942 where her two brothers were later born.
She graduated from Brewster High School (now the Garden Street School) in 1952.
She also attended one semester of Teacher’s college at SUNY New Paltz before going to work as a dental assistant/office manager for Dr. Lawrence S. Greenfield in Brewster for 30 years.
After “retiring” from the dentist’s office, she worked part-time as a teacher’s aide in the Brewster schools for almost 10 years which she loved since she always wanted to be in the teaching profession.

She met the love of her life, James J. Yessian from Mahopac, on stage at the Brewster Theater Group. Besides his good looks, he won her over with his ability to always make her laugh. They were married on October 26, 1957 at St. John the Evangelist in Mahopac and settled in Brewster where they raised their family.

In addition to being a founding member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Brewster, she was also on the Church Council, taught Sunday school, was in the Couples Club, danced in the Schuhklutzers German Dancers for the Oktoberfests, sang in the Senior Choir and was a member of Trinity Campers, as well as the Tappan Z Campers. She was also an avid reader.

Those who knew Dorothy knew she put others’ needs first; her heart was always open and she was a very forgiving person. She was Mom to everyone, and basically raised her youngest brother Roger. A strong, organized, detailed-oriented person, you could always count on her for strength and encouragement or words of wisdom to help you get through your day.

She is survived by her husband Jimmy, daughters Laurie (and Peter) Bell, Lynne (and John) Heuschkel of Brewster; grandsons Connor and Gavin Heuschkel; granddaughter Nicole (and Anthony) Kosminsky of Sussex,NJ; great grandsons Cole and Brayden Kosminsky; brothers John (and Linda) Petersen of Virginia Beach, VA, and Roger (and Lynne) Petersen of Peoria, AZ. She is predeceased by her granddaughter Danielle Bell.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday June 18, 2015 at 11am at Trinity Lutheran Church, Brewster, NY. Interment will be private. Friends may call at the Beecher Funeral Home, 1 Putnam Avenue, Brewster, NY, on Wednesday June 17, 2015 from 4pm-8pm. www.Beecherfuneralhome.com

Donations in celebration of Dorothy’s life may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, 2103 Route 6, Brewster, NY, 10509 -OR- to Friends of Karen, 118 Titicus Road, North Salem, NY 10560.