Dorothy (Baker) Hildebrandt's Obituary
Dorothy (Baker) Hildebrandt passed away on March 13, 2018 after 95 richly-lived years. Born in Somerville, MA on January 26, 1923 to Leon H. Baker and Mildred (Marsh) Baker, she moved with her family soon after to Lawrence, and then to Methuen. Leon, who won the Croix de Guerre for his valor as an ambulance driver in France with the American Expeditionary forces during World War I, and was a successful local businessman, passed away tragically while Dorothy was a teenager. She remained in Methuen with her mother and younger brother, Alvin M. Baker, graduating from the Edward F. Searles High School in 1940.
In 1941 she married the love of her life, Alfred H. (“Hilde”) Hildebrandt, who she had met while attending the Vine Street Methodist Church in Lawrence. They raised four children in the Prospect Hill neighborhood in Lawrence: Diane L. (Hildebrandt) Robinson, Robert L. Hildebrandt, Andrew W. Hildebrandt, and Joyce A. (Hildebrandt) Crawford. They also made a comfortable home for “Nana” Baker in the Dutch flat of their cape on Sumner Av. She lived there happily (and kept her grandchildren well-supplied with fresh-baked cookies) until her passing.
Besides being a great wife and mother, Dot worked in clerical capacities in the Wood Mill, the Lawrence YWCA, and the dental office of Dr. Alfred Arcidi. For many years, she was also the organist at the Vine Street Methodist Church in Lawrence and the Oakland Methodist Church in Methuen. Later, she and her daughter, Diane, established “Diane’s Designs in Glass” in Londonderry, NH. There they built a studio, creating stained glass sun-catchers, windows and Tiffany-style lamps, and teaching classes in leaded-glass artistry. Juried members of the Rockingham County Crafters’ Association, they were well-known throughout the New England craft community for their excellent workmanship and original designs.
Dot and her husband Al were also active socially in their church and, with four other couples (“The Terrible Ten”), organized suppers, teen activities, holiday events, camping trips and many memorable family outings. They were also avid (and skilled) square dancers, and attended dances throughout New England with their local clubs. She and her family also liked the out-of-doors and spent over 40 happy summers camping at Lakeside Pines Campground in N. Bridgeton, ME. They swam, boated, water-skied, and forged many fond friendships, some of which continue to this day.
Upon retirement, Dot and Al moved to N. Fort Myers to enjoy the “Florida lifestyle”. They loved the sun and warmth, and enjoyed gardening, growing their own citrus fruit, biking, swimming, bowling, going to the beach, and playing cards with their many new friends. Al also worked part-time for K-Mart, and Dot became the organist at Good Shepherd Methodist church in N. Fort Myers. For over twenty years they were also able to return north to Lakeside Pines for the summer months, visiting with family and renewing old friendships.
Dorothy was predeceased by her mother, Mildred; her loving husband, Alfred; her brother, Alvin; both her daughter, Diane, and son-in-law Anthony Robinson of Londonderry NH; and also her son, Robert. She is survived by her beloved son, Andrew, who with his wife, Linda, made a very comfortable home in Methuen for her in her final years; also, her loving daughter, Joyce, widow of the late Bruce Crawford, of Greenfield MA, as well as ten grandchildren: Bruce Robison, Thomas Robinson, Marc Mirisch, Nicole Mirisch, Joshua Thomson, Rebecca Kolakoski, Alexander Thomson, Christopher Rousseau, Andrew Rousseau, and Chelsea Hildebrandt. There are also eight great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
The family would like to express their sincere thanks and gratitude to the staff of Mary Immaculate Restorative Center, especially the staff of unit 3B, as well to Merrimack Valley Hospice, for their wonderful care of Dorothy in her final year. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to either organization, or to a charity of the donor’s choosing.
A memorial service will be held at the Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home on 233 Lawrence St. in Methuen on Saturday, May 19th at 11 AM. Friends are invited to join the family for a luncheon after the service. As Dorothy contributed her body to Tufts Medical School, the family will hold a private interment of her ashes at a later date.
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