Dottie O'Brien

Dottie O’Brien, who we lost on September 30, 2014, loved ice cream, high heels, the seashore and dancing. But most of all she loved her large, extended Irish Catholic family, and her many close friends.

Born Dorothy Elizabeth Weeks on April 17, 1918, to her parents Marilda Haney and Charles Hiram Weeks, she grew up in Trenton, NJ with her sisters Ruth and Mildred and her brother Charles “Buddy” Weeks.

She attended Cathedral High School and Rider College before marrying and moving to Texas with her first husband, Col. William Kurtz Perry, who was the father of her three children: William Kurtz Perry Jr of Charleston, South Carolina; Nancy Perry Graham of Ashburn, Virginia; and Richard Weeks Perry of Tequesta, Florida.

Widowed after 25 years of marriage, she moved back north to Yardley, Pa., in 1969 and began a career as a medical and legal secretary, working at Mercer Hospital, St. Francis Hospital, and New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Company, all in Trenton.Dorothy, who went on to wed—and was widowed—three more times, was married most recently to Francis “Micky” O’Brien, from Binghamton, NY.

In addition to her three children, Dorothy, who lived in recent years in Tequesta, Florida, is survived by her daughters-in-law Bonnie DuFort Perry and Karen Holloway Perry and her son-in-law Gregory Frank Graham; her grandchildren Jennifer Perry Ross; Nicholas Brennan, Daniel Kurtz and Kimberly Frantz Perry; and Jessica Claire, William Perry and Taylor Elle Graham; and three great granddaughters. She is also survived by several stepchildren.

She is pre-deceased by her eldest grandson, Richard Weeks Perry Jr. We’d like to thank the competent, loving caregivers from Right at Home agency who became part of our family and helped make Dorothy’s final months as comfortable and happy as they could possibly be.

Family and friends are invited to gather on Friday, October 3, 2014 between 10:30 am and 11:30 am at St. Theresa Catholic Church, 21371 St. Theresa Lane, Ashburn, Virginia 20147. A Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for Friday, October 3, 2014 starting at 11:30 am at St. Theresa Catholic Church. Father James Hinkle will be officiating. Burial will take place in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia at a later time.

Memorial donations can be made to Nope Taskforce at www.nopetaskforce.org to aid in narcotic overdose prevention and education.

Please leave condolences at www.colonialfuneralhome.com.