In loving memory of Dorothy J. "Dottie" Hollenberg Light, 81, of Columbia, who passed away peacefully at home with her family, to her eternal home on Thursday, October 12, 2023, after a courageous battle with cancer. She was the beloved wife of Harry L. Light, the love of her life, whom she married in 1966, then moved to the Poconos, where they started their family. They celebrated 57 years of marriage this past May
Dottie was born in Sebring, FL in 1942, daughter of the late John and Ada Dunning Hollenberg. Her passion for music started at a young age, singing with her mom in church and directing her Kindergarten Class. She was a youth fellowship chairperson for her church and district youth cabinet, planned events for church camp, lead singing at COB Annual Conference, and sang in a girls’ ensemble in her high school years for meetings of area organizations, school assemblies, church functions and so forth. She graduated from Bridgewater College in 1964 with a BS in Music and received the "Vocalist of the Year" award. She was chosen as a freshman and continued to sing in the Ladies Quartet, the Chorale, the Glee Club and the Touring Choir, visiting several states throughout her years at Bridgwater. Dottie taught K-12 music for two years in Basset, VA. She was the Director of Music at Central UM Church, Honesdale for many years and sang in Hebrew in a quartet for the High Holy Days at the local Synagogue. She also directed the Wayne Choralaires and the Scranton District United Methodist Youth Choir. She shared her love of music by taking her family to many local musicals and Broadway Shows. She also worked for a few years as a bank teller and the local Christian bookstore. Dottie and Harry had an abundant vegetable garden and she loved canning and freezing veggies all summer. Her beautiful flower gardens were enjoyed by many. She had strangers knock on the door to take wedding pictures in front of the gardens several times. Dottie loved to travel, having traveled around the perimeter of the US with her parents one summer during her college years. She visited Hawaii, Oregon, Alaska, Michigan, Kansas, and many other US states, as well as Sanibel Island, Niagara Falls, the Creation Museum and Ark Encounter, cruises to the Caribbean Islands, trips to the NJ shores and yearly trips to Sebring, FL. After retirement, Dottie and Harry moved to Lancaster County where she became very involved in the Mountville Church of the Brethren , including singing in the choir; Stitch, Sew and Share Group; and assisting with children’s activities, disaster relief clean-up buckets, school kits, hygiene kits and so forth. She enjoyed butterflies and making and sharing chocolate pretzel treats. Dottie was a beloved mother, grandmother, sister and friend who was known for her warm heart, generosity, gifts of encouragement and love to all. She will forever be remembered for her beautiful smile, and deep love of family, friends and her church family.
Surviving in addition to her husband, her children: Susan Beiler, Lancaster; Christina (Eddie) Mayes, Elizabethtown; and Wendy Latty, Columbia. Her love also extended to her cherished grandchildren: Niko, Anya, India, Zayda and Carys. Her sister: Edna Rutkosky. Several sisters and brothers-in-law. Nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by a sister: Viola Swank and two brothers: John Ralph Hollenberg and George Hollenberg.
Please join the family in honoring Dottie and celebrating her life and the love and warmth she shared with all who knew her at Mountville Church of the Brethren, 60 Clay Street, Mountville, PA 17554 on SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2023 at 11:00 A.M. with Pastor Angela Finet, officiating. Visitation with family will be from 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her memory to: Mountville Church of the Brethren or Hospice and Community Care. Arrangements by the Workman Funeral Homes, Inc., Mountville/Columbia. To send an online condolence, visit the condolence page.