Dorothy T. Derby

Dorothy Theresa McGee Derby passed away Monday March 18th at the Hospice House in Stamford, CT after a courageous eight months with pancreatic cancer and eight years with Alzheimer's Disease. She was 78 years old. Dorothy was proudly born to Michael McGee (of Donegal, Ireland) and Margaret O'Mahony (of Limerick, Ireland) in Brooklyn, NY. Dorothy is pre-deceased by her parents, her sister, and her husband, John (Jack) Derby. She is survived by her three children, Michael Derby, Liam Derby, and Eileen Lawless, and her grandchildren Mairead, Aidan, and Emmett Derby and Lorcan Lawless. Dorothy had an easy smile, beautifully expressive eyes, and a quick wit. Creative and talented, she masterfully knitted, crocheted, and sewed beautiful pieces throughout her life. Her painted artwork, even years into her Alzheimer's Disease, was auctioned off three years in a row. Proceeds went to the Alzheimer's Association of Orange County, CA where she lived for four years before returning to the East Coast in September. Dorothy loved a cup of tea and a good book as well as cooking and traveling. She walked with lions and petted a cheetah in South Africa, explored Mayan ruins in Mexico, and visited many European countries from Ireland to France, Italy, and Kosovo. She was infinitely patient, deeply compassionate, and will be profoundly missed by all who knew her.