Dorathea Ethel (Greiner) Tewes

Dorathea Ethel (Greiner) Tewes

April 20, 1917 ~ April 3, 2023 (age 105)

Dorathea was born in Brooklyn, New York in the spring of 1917. A woman of great strength and resilience, Dorathea struggled during World War II to keep the family together after her husband was drafted and they became homeless. In 1945, the family was accepted into the Veteran’s Project on Staten Island where she taught dance classes for children in her small barracks apartment. After securing a job with the New York City Health Department she continued to gain experience and progress through civil service exams, retiring as the Administrator of the Welfare Center in Bed-Stuy Brooklyn after 30 years of working for the city.  

Her entire adult life, Dorathea was active in Masonic philanthropic organizations - Eastern Star, The Nile, and Order of the Amaranth. She held top state and world offices in the Amaranth and traveled around the world visiting members. She remained an active member during her retirement years in the Florida Keys, 1992 - 2014. She spent her final years in Charlotte, NC near her granddaughter and passed peacefully on April 3, 2023 just a few weeks before her 106th birthday.

Dorathea was a lifelong member of the Methodist Church. At Burton Memorial UMC in Tavernier, Florida she delighted in rocking the babies in the day care center, working in the food pantry, singing tenor in the choir, and staying active in United Methodist Women’s missions. She loved visiting with the manatee in her canal and talking with her parakeets. 

She was a proud Grandma, MawMaw Tewes, and Granny, and always enjoyed telling her stories and singing her songs to everyone. She could be the life of the party and had a sense of humor that would leave you shaking your head with a smile. Those who knew her well and spent time with her agreed that she was a hoot! 

Predeceased by her parents, Martha & Charles Frederick Greiner, her husband Fred Tewes, and son Frederick Charles Tewes.  Survived by her daughter Dorathea (Donald) Niebling, grandchildren Bette (Fred) Miller, Scott Niebling, Wendy (Dean) Johnston, great grandchildren Joseph (Jessica) Miller, Megan (Prescott) Hill, Hartlee, Sam and Jenna Johnston, great great grandchildren Alice Marie Miller and Jethro Scott Hill, and her nephew Kenneth (June) Lachler. 

As per her wishes, Dorathea’s celebration of life will be a private family memorial to scatter her ashes at sea.

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