Dorthea Marion Schiller was born on December 18, 1925 to Walter and Mary Eaves. Dottie, as she was affectionately known throughout her life, grew up in the Kearny and North Arlington areas of New Jersey with her sister Madeline. She was a warm and loving person, friendly to all she met, with an unmatched dedication to her family, friends, professional pursuits, and service to her church and community.
Dottie met her future husband, Walter C. Schiller, while she was living in North Arlington. The happy couple was married on March 12, 1948 and moved to Rutherford, New Jersey in 1954.
Dottie and Walter raised three children in the Rutherford community: Miriam, Charles, and David. Throughout this time, Dottie was a dedicated mother and working professional in the medical field. Prior to the birth of her children, she studied at a technical school in NYC and went on to work as a lab technician at Passaic General Hospital for several years. Following that she worked at Hoffmann La Roche and then moved on to a position as lab technician at the office of local pediatrician William E. Williams, a post she held for many years. Later, she made a career change and became a successful realtor at A.W. Van Winkle Century 21. Dot is well remembered in Rutherford for her work in both fields by her many clients and business acquaintances.
Alongside her professional activities and raising her three children, Dottie was continually active in volunteer and charity work at the Rutherford Congregational Church, where she and Walter were members for many years. She also taught Sunday school and loved singing in the choir. Because of her charitable heart and ongoing commitment to her community, Dottie was known and loved by the congregation. In 2005 they came together with her family in celebration of Dottie’s 80th birthday, which was a truly joyous event for all participants.
In her spare time, Dottie loved meeting new people and learning about them. She had a passion for history as well, and especially enjoyed reading historical biographies to discover more about the people who shaped her world. Dottie and Walter loved to travel and took several trips to Europe. When their children were young, they explored many parts of the United States and Canada on long automobile trips. In later years, Dottie and Walter became avid naturalists, learning about the diversity of bird and plant life of the Northeast and sharing the wonder of nature with their young grandchildren on many a weekend excursion.
Sadly, Dottie’s husband Walter passed in 1999, a year after they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with friends and family. Following Walter’s passing, Dottie left Rutherford to live near her daughter, Miriam, in Hackettstown New Jersey, where she has been since, eventually residing in the Heath Village retirement home.
Dottie is survived by her three children, four grandchildren and one great granddaughter. She will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and all who were enriched by her kind and generous spirit.
Interment is private.
In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St Hubert's Animal Welfare Center, 575 Woodland Ave. P.O. Box 159, Madison, NJ 07940, website: sthuberts.org