Patricia Bettcher Dockendorff, 92, of Orange, formerly of Cheshire, passed away peacefully on Dec. 12 at her home. Pat was born on June 28, 1922, daughter of the late Carl W. Bettcher and Natalie Gates Bettcher. She was the wife of the late John Edwin Dockendorff. Her brother Carl W. Bettcher, Jr., predeceased her.

Pat graduated from the Day Prospect Hill School in New Haven and then went on to graduate from Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri. Upon graduation, she worked at Grace New Haven Hospital as a lab technician. After raising her family, Pat was employed by Orange Research as a production technician and for many years as a service writer and advisor at Sears Automotive. The occupation she truly loved was volunteering for many organizations, including the American Red Cross assisting with blood drives, the Gaylord Rehabilitation Center working in the gift shop, the Cheshire Public Library, and the North Haven Congregational Church assisting with the Women’s Fellowship on numerous campaigns and activities.

Pat was the loving mother of three sons, John W. Dockendorff (Donna) of Orange, Robert C. Dockendorff (Jennifer) of Greenville, South Carolina, and James B. Dockendorff (Leslie) of North Haven. She also leaves behind five grandchildren, Susanna Lee LoVerme (Joseph), Christopher Gates Dockendorff, Jessica Lynn Dockendorff, Lisa Nillson Dockendorff, John Trevor Dockendorff, and one great-grandson, Marcello John LoVerme.

The family would like to acknowledge all of the support, prayers, and loving care from so many she touched in her life. In particular, the nurses and staff of Maplewood at Orange, Seasons Hospice, Diane of Excella Home Care, and also her dedicated caregivers Carol and Lezette.

Funeral services have been entrusted to Hawley Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home, New Haven. A private family burial service will take place in Cheshire. A memorial service will be held in her honor at North Haven Congregational Church on Jan. 10, 2015, at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Red Cross Association at https://redcross.org/donate or to Seasons Hospice and Palliative Care at www.seasonsfoundation.org. To sign her online guestbook, please visit hawleylincolnmemorial.com.